Mount TBR Challenge 2024 discussion
Mount Everest (100 books)
>
When not in Narnia Karen wants to climb Everest!
Mod
Space is the goal of my reread climb as well. Such a problem we can't have unlimited bookshelves, isn't it?Good luck!
Good luck Karen for reaching your goals in 2024. Yes, space is one big reason for wanting to stay track on what I own, I have run out as well. One of the appeals for digital books is space, (but print is preferable).
I am not planning to do as many challenges this year as I found it a little stressful last year. I wrote this last year too...I am doing:
- Mount TBR (100)
- Virtual TBR (60)
- Partner challenge - need to read Murder as One of the Fine Arts by Thomas de Quincey, The English in Portugal 1383-1387 by Fernão Lopes and The Voyages And Adventures Of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto, The Portuguese by Fernão Mendes Pinto (the last two will count for this challenge, the first for Virtual TBR).
- A book a month for the 1001 group's TBR Takedown
- 160 books on the 2023 Goodreads Reading Challenge
- 24 in 2024 books (hope to succeed this year!)
Books I need to read in January:
- If on a Winter's Night a Traveller - Italo Calvino (Virtual TBR - 2001 challenge)
- Divine Might - Natalie Haynes (Virtual TBR - unable to renew from library)
- The Great Deceiver - Elly Griffiths (Virtual TBR - unable to renew from library)
- Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell (1001 re-read - Same number as drawn for my 1001 challenge but from a list of books I need to re-read)
- Descent by Sam Mariano (24 in 24 list using the same number drawn for the 1001 challenge)
Thank you for the comments above. I agree, print over Kindle books and I would give almost anything for unlimited book shelves! Good luck all with your challenges.
Additions to Mount TBR in January 2024.(I will cross them out if I read them this year). Hoping if I have to keep updating this it might put me off buying books...Although they will all count for this challenge...in 2025.
Physical Books Acquired.
1.
2.
3. From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata.
4. Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift.
5. The Ghost Who Fell In Love by Barbara Cartland.
6. Two-Timer by Lorna Read.
7. Soul Mates: love's magic moments by Tom Burns.
8. Poetics by Aristotle.
9. State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy.
10. Esther's Inheritance by Sándor Márai.
Kindle Books Acquired.
1. Mayluna by Kelley McNeil. Amazon 1st read.
2. The Hours of You by Fiona Collins. Amazon 1st read.
3.
4.
1. Greater than the Sum of Our Parts: Feminism, Inter/Nationalism, and Palestine by Nada Elia.
4 stars. Not really like any analysis of the Middle East that I have read before. Interesting and thought provoking.
On TBR since November 2023.
2. The Engagement by Chloe Hooper.
3 stars. I didn't love this while reading it but I can't stop thinking about it. A gothic, atmospheric story.
On TBR since November or December last year.
3. Descent by Sam Mariano.
3 stars. Not as good as I was hoping.
On Kindle TBR since 13/01/2022.
4. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell.
4 stars. Iconic, horrifying but does drag somewhat in the middle.
On TBR since last year but I forgot to add it ( I owned it previously and got rid of my copy).
5. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri.
4 stars. I was too young for this when it first came out. It was one of the last things I bought last year and I am glad to have read it.
On TBR since 22/12/2023 (original copy bought 2002 ish but unhauled partly read).
6. Snare by Lilja Sigurðardóttir.
3 stars. I picked this up primarily because of the Icelandic setting and this turned out to be the best thing about it. I prefer my crime novels to feature murderous monks or country house murders and novels about drug dealing are not usually my thing. This was well written and I liked the twists so other people will enjoy this more than me.
On TBR since approx August 2021.
7. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot.
3 stars. I have read this before and it is good fun.
On TBR since I picked up a copy last December.
8. Viking Heat by Sandra Hill.
3 stars. It has been so long since I read one of Sandra Hill's Viking books. This was good but she is not one of my favourite authors as I find her work satisfying but not quite to my taste. I don't go out of my way to read her books but if they come my way I will pick them up.
On TBR since 22/12/2023.
9. In Five Years by Rebecca Serle.
2 stars. This was not a bad book I just felt I disliked the main character too much to care what happened to her. Good idea but did not quite work.
On TBR since 10/12/2021.
JANUARYTotal books read in January: 14
Total qualifying for this challenge: 9
Total qualifying for Virtual Mount TBR challenge: 3
24 in 2024: 1 out of 24 so far
JANUARY READS
I read all five books I wanted to.
Books I want to read in February:
- Fear of Flying by Erica Jong (1001)
- The Accidental - Ali Smith (a group is reading it and I have wanted to try this author for ages)
- Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson (1001 re-read - Same number as drawn for my 1001 challenge but from a list of books I need to re-read)
- Dukes of Ruin by Angel Lawson (24 in 24 list using the same number drawn for the 1001 challenge)
Additions to Mount TBR in February and March 2024.(I will cross them out if I read them this year). Hoping if I have to keep updating this it might put me off buying books...Although they will all count for this challenge...in 2025.
Physical Books Acquired.
1. Sex and the Citadel: Intimate Life in a Changing Arab World by Shereen El Feki.
2. Reimagining Britain: Foundations for Hope by Justin Welby.
3. Ormond by Maria Edgeworth.
4. The Prince and I: My Life with Prince Bira of Siam by Ceril Birabongse.
5.
Kindle Books Acquired.
1.
2. The Lies Among Us by Sarah Beth Durst.
3. If You Don't Love Me We Both Die by CM Stunich.
11. Collapse Feminism: The Online Battle for Feminism's Future by Alice Cappelle.
3 stars.
On TBR since December 2023.
12. Emirati Women in Dubai: Navigating Cultural Change by Monica Gallant.
4 Stars. Interesting and would be nice to have an update.
On TBR since 09/07/2020.
FEBRUARYTotal books read in January: 9
Total qualifying for this challenge: 3
Total qualifying for Virtual Mount TBR challenge: 5
24 in 2024: 1 out of 24 so far
FEBRUARY READS
Still reading Dukes of Ruin.
Books I want to read in March:
- The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen (1001)
- Sandokan by Emilio Salgari (group read)
- Home by Marilynne Robinson (group read)
- Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (group read)
- Cecilia by Fanny Burney (1001 reread)
- The Group by Mary McCarthy (24 in 24)
- Bride by Ali Hazelwood (Virtual TBR - unable to renew)
13. Dukes of Ruin by Angel Lawson.
3 stars. What a disappointment. Basically nothing happened and it was so repetitive.
On Kindle TBR since 05/11/2021.
14. Hate List by Jennifer Brown.
5 stars. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was uplifting without turning into a sentimental slush and I appreciated the nuance Jennifer Brown brought to the characters.
On TBR since approx. January 2023.
15. Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith: The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2024: Foreword by Justin Welby by Selina Stone.
5 stars. Unexpectedly thought provoking and interesting.
On TBR since 28/12/2023.
16. Women Remembered: Jesus' Female Disciples by Joan E. Taylor.
3 stars. Not going to lie, I did not enjoy the prose style and the ideas could have been expressed more clearly.
On TBR since approx 05/07/2023.
MARCHTotal books read in March: 11
Total qualifying for this challenge: 4
Total qualifying for Virtual Mount TBR challenge: 4
24 in 2024: 2 out of 24 so far
MARCH READS
In a slump. I finished The House in Paris, Sandokan and Bride and started Home and The Group.
Books I want to read in April:
- Roxana by Daniel Defoe (1001)
- Under the Net by Iris Murdoch (group read)
- The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (1001 reread)
- Orientalism by Edward Said (24 in 24)
- The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black (Virtual TBR - unable to renew)
- The Cook of Castamar by Fernando J Múñez (Virtual TBR - unable to renew)
I also want to finish The Group and Home and start the others I did not get to from last month.
Additions to Mount TBR in April 2024.(I will cross them out if I read them this year). Hoping if I have to keep updating this it might put me off buying books...Although they will all count for this challenge...in 2025.
Physical Books Acquired.
1.
2. The New Cambridge History of India, Volume 4, Part 2: Women in Modern India by Geraldine Forbes.
3. Non-combatants and others by Rose Macaulay.
4. The Man with His Back to the East by Barbara Neil.
5. Beowulf: A New Translation trans by Maria Dahvana Headley,
6. Vindicating the Vixens: Revisiting Sexualized, Vilified, and Marginalized Women of the Bible by Sandra L. Glahn.
7. Questions to ask your Muslim friends by Beth Peltola.
8. A Short Guide to Islam: A Biblical Response to the Faith of Our Muslim Neighbors by Beth Peltola,
9. The Christian Feminist: Watch God Breathe by Bethany Caudill.
10. Unveiled: Through the Eyes of an Arab Woman by Faye Al Saadoon Lind.
11. Journeys Toward Gender Equality in Islam by Ziba Mir-Hosseini.
Kindle Books Acquired.
1. Cut and Thirst: A Short Story by Margaret Atwood. Amazon 1st Read.
2. The Letters We Keep by Nisha Sharma. Amazon 1st read.
3. The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson.
4. The Silence Project by Carole Hailey.
5. I Hate Men by Pauline Harmange.
6. Brutal Ambition by Sam Mariano.
17. The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
4 stars. Really enjoyed this little story. Cinderella with bite.
On Kindle TBR since 03/10/2023.
18. Teaching Rape in the Medieval Literature Classroom: Approaches to Difficult Texts edited by Alison Gulley.
4 stars. A series of essays which manage to cover how to teach rape in medieval literature with an analyses of what the text says and how it can be interpreted.
On TBR since 16/02/2022.
19. The Group by Mary McCarthy.
4 stars. I had never heard of this before finding it in a free library. A hidden gem with an unflinching look at life in 1930s New York for a group of Vassar College graduates and friends.
On TBR since approx June 2021.
APRILTotal books read in April: 11
Total qualifying for this challenge: 3
Total qualifying for Virtual Mount TBR challenge: 4
24 in 2024: 2 out of 24 so far
APRIL READS
Still in a slump. I need to finish Orientalism and only just got my hands on a copy of Hitchhiker's Guide.
Books I want to read in May:
- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1001)
- Beloved by Toni Morrison (1001 reread)
- Fight Dirty by Eva Ashwood (24 in 24)
- The Last Word by Elly Griffiths (Virtual TBR - unable to renew)
Additions to Mount TBR in May 2024.(I will cross them out if I read them this year). Hoping if I have to keep updating this it might put me off buying books...Although they will all count for this challenge...in 2025.
Physical Books Acquired.
Kindle Books Acquired.
1. Hana Khan Carries On: An absolutely irresistible, sparkling new rom-com for fans of You've Got Mail by Uzma Jalaluddin.
2. Meet Me on the Bridge by Sarah J. Harris. Amazon 1st read.
20. Tormented by Esme Devlin.
4 stars. Really liked the beginning but it kind of tailed off a bit. Nice to read a NA romance set in Scotland.
On Kindle TBR since 09/06/2023.
21. The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope. (My edition is not here).4 stars. A highly enjoyable romp of a book. Quick and easy to read; the weaker aspects of the plot are easily glossed over as you get caught up in the fun.
An unexpected delight and the kind of enjoyable adventure story that I was expecting Sandokan to be when I read it earlier this year.
On TBR since approx April 2023.
22. Fight Dirty by Eva Ashwood.
4 stars. Managed to hit the spot despite the main character not really being consistent and could have done with more tension rather than lust between the characters. A not entirely unexpected but exciting cliffhanger at the end.
On Kindle TBR since 01/11/2020.
23. Play Rough by Eva Ashwood.
4 stars. Just. I like the characters but there is nothing surprising here.
On Kindle TBR since 20/11/2020.
24. Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur.
4 stars. A good read.
On TBR since approx January 2023.
25. Wreak Havoc by Eva Ashwood.
3 stars. Bit of a damp squib. One book to go.
On Kindle TBR since 26/03/2021.
26. The Lola Quartet by by Emily St. John Mandel.
3 stars. Bland. Not really what I was expecting but I still felt compelled to read to the end. Might like another book by this author better.
On TBR since TBA.
27. Home by Marilynne Robinson.
5 stars. A quietly beautiful novel. The sequel to the equally wonderful Gilead.
On TBR since approx 02/01/2022.
28. Love Hard by Eva Ashwood.
3 stars. I should probably give up on Eva Ashwood. Her series always start good and she has great plot ideas but they fall flat when she tries to write them. Just surface level details and flat writing.
On Kindle TBR since 26/03/2021.
MAY (Very late)Total books read in April: 12
Total qualifying for this challenge: 6
Total qualifying for Virtual Mount TBR challenge: 4
24 in 2024: 5 out of 24 so far
MAY READS
Still in a slump. I still need to finish Orientalism, failed to read Catch-22 or Beloved.
Books I want to read in June:
- The Plague by Albert Camus (1001)
- The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie (1001 reread)
- The Dragon, the Virgin and George by Lisa Cach (24 in 24)
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos (Group is reading it and I own it).
- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Least important as I have read it before but I want to read Austen and a group is reading it).
- The Passion by Jeanette Winterson (Group reading it and I want to read more from this author).
- Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson (Virtual TBR - unable to renew)
- Funny Story by Emily Henry (Virtual TBR - unable to renew)
From previous months:
- Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (group read)
- Cecilia by Fanny Burney (1001 reread)
- Orientalism by Edward Said (24 in 24)
- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1001)
- Beloved by Toni Morrison (1001 reread)
Additions to Mount TBR in June 2024.(I will cross them out if I read them this year). Hoping if I have to keep updating this it might put me off buying books...Although they will all count for this challenge...in 2025.
Physical Books Acquired.
Kindle Books Acquired.
1. The Curse of the Flores Women by Angélica Lopes (1st read)
2. Falling Down by Guillermo del Toro (1st read).
29. The Dragon, the Virgin, and George by Lisa Cach.
3 stars. I have wanted to read it for 20 odd years and am glad I have finally done it. Not my favourite author and I would have enjoyed it better 20 years ago.
On Kindle TBR since 14/11/2021.
30. Historical Stories of Exile edited volume.
4 stars. Surprisingly good collection with a welcome focus on pre-modern settings.
On Kindle TBR since 12/11/2023.
JUNETotal books read in April: 13
Total qualifying for this challenge: 5
Total qualifying for Virtual Mount TBR challenge: 3
24 in 2024: 6 out of 24 so far
JUNE READS
Worst slump I have ever had. I finished The Plague, the Lisa Cach book and the two I needed to read for Virtual TBR. I also had the sixth volume of Anne of Green Gables out from the library and that was requested so I had to read that. I started Sense and Sensibility.
Books I want to read in July:
- Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks (1001)
- Notre Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo (1001 reread)
- The Ritual by Shantel Tessier (24 in 24)
- Indigo by Marina Warner (Group is reading it and I own it).
- Les Mis by Victor Hugo (Group read of a book I have read but not since joining GR).
- The Cuckoo by Camilla Lackberg (Virtual TBR - unable to renew)
- Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood (Virtual TBR - unable to renew)
From previous months:
- Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (group read)
- Cecilia by Fanny Burney (1001 reread)
- Orientalism by Edward Said (24 in 24)
- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1001)
- Beloved by Toni Morrison (1001 reread)
- The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie (1001 reread)
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos (Group read)
- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Group read)
- The Passion by Jeanette Winterson (Group read)
Additions to Mount TBR in July 2024.(I will cross them out if I read them this year). Hoping if I have to keep updating this it might put me off buying books...Although they will all count for this challenge...in 2025.
Physical Books Acquired.
Kindle Books Acquired.
31. A Dance with the Fae Prince by Elise Kova.
4 stars. An enjoyable Cupid and Psyche crossed with Cinderella inspired book. The twist was so obvious which detracted a little. But I loved the world and being back there.
On Kindle TBR since 15/01/2023.
32. The Ritual by Shantel Tessier.
3 stars. The author has some interesting plot ideas but I just don't really like the execution of the story.
On Kindle TBR since 12/2023.
33. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.
5 stars. Possibly my second least favourite Austen novel but I still give it 5 stars because I love it so much.
On TBR since - I have read it multiple times but it has never been used for this challenge before.
35. Bride for a Tiger by Jo Germany.
3 stars. Our heroine arrives in the Fens for an arranged marriage and finds herself dealing with suspected ghosts, escaped French prisoners and the mysterious fate of her husband's first wife.
Just the thing for a read at four in the morning when you cannot sleep.
On TBR since last year but I have been so irregular about adding things to GR that I cannot be more specific.
JULYTotal books read in April: 14
Total qualifying for this challenge: 5
Total qualifying for Virtual Mount TBR challenge: 3
24 in 2024: 9 out of 24 so far
JULY READS
Worst slump I have ever had and I am thinking of abandoning all reading goals. However, I finished Sense and Sensibility and read The Ritual and the two library books I needed to read. I started Indigo. I also read two extra books from my 24 in 24 list.
Books I want to read in July:
- The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1001)
- The Child in Time by Ian McEwan (1001 reread)
- Corinne, or Italy by Madame de Staël, (24 in 24)
From previous months:
- Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (group read)
- Cecilia by Fanny Burney (1001 reread)
- Orientalism by Edward Said (24 in 24)
- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1001)
- Beloved by Toni Morrison (1001 reread)
- The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie (1001 reread)
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos (Group read)
- The Passion by Jeanette Winterson (Group read
- Indigo by Marina Warner (Group read)
-Les Mis (Group Read)
- Birdsong (1001)
- Notre Dame de Paris (1001 reread)
36. The Rome Affair by Karen Swan.
4 stars. Reliable author. I really enjoyed this one.
On TBR since March 2020
37. The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis.
4 stars. Loved the characters and found this an atmospheric setting. Hope to read the next book soon.
On TBR since April 2021.
38. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera.
4 stars. Yes, I wanted to read this because of the title. It was a good book and I was interested in how it was going to get to the "final destination".
On TBR since January 2023.
39. The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend.
3 stars. I definitely read this as a teenager but it was not a favourite. Still isn't.
On TBR since 2022 or 2023 (dodgy records strike again)
40. Growing Pains Of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend.
3 stars. See comment above.
On TBR since 2022 or 2023 (dodgy records strike again)
41. The Woman Who Walked Into Doors by Roddy Doyle.
3 stars. Read this for A Level English back in the day. It was better than The Commitments which we also read and I cannot put my finger on why I do not like it more.
On TBR since March 2023.
42. The Death of a Mafia Don by Michele Giuttari.
3 stars. Okay but the story is very procedural with little atmosphere and poorly fleshed out characters.
On TBR since approx March 2023.
43. Life Lessons from Xena, Warrior Princess: A Guide to Happiness, Success, and Body Armor by Chris Kreski.
3 stars. Not sure who bought it for me or when, but it was good fun.
On TBR since somewhere 2016-2018?
44. The Wedding Deception by Kay Thorpe (no cover)3 stars. A meh story. Okay but not enough happened.
On TBR since - no idea
45. The Lady Chapel by Sarah Law.
3 stars. Best thing about this book of poems was the cover.
On TBR since about June 2020.
46. The Black Moon by Winston Graham.
4 stars. I don't know why I have not read this series yet. I always enjoy the books and the world.
On TBR since approx November 2022
47. The Famous Five and the Knights' Treasure by Enid Blyton.
4 stars. Nostalgic read as I used to love these Famous Five continuation books.
On TBR for years - 2018?19?
AUGUSTTotal books read in August: 17
Total qualifying for this challenge: 12
Total qualifying for Virtual Mount TBR challenge: 3
24 in 2024: 9 out of 24 so far
AUGUST READS
I just have too much on and I have decided to all but abandon my reading goals for the remainder of the year.
Books I should be reading in September:
- The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams (1001)
- (1001 reread)
- The Towers of Trebizond by Rose Macauley (24 in 24)
48. The Four Swans by Winston Graham.
4 Stars. Enjoyable. Ross Poldark becomes an MP. Which is amusing.
On TBR since a while. It was a hand me down.
49. An Awful Cat-titude by Addison Moore.
3 stars. Reasonably interesting but probably will not continue the series.
On TBR since I am not sure since I forgot to add it to GR. Three years?
Mount TBR Challenge 2024
Books mentioned in this topic
The Book of the City of Ladies (other topics)Baby It's Cold Outside (other topics)
Haunting Adeline (other topics)
Bravo for the Bride (other topics)
Endgame (other topics)
More...
Good luck to everyone participating in Mount TBR 2024.