Mount TBR 2014 Challenge discussion

Ok, so I'm going to start small and hopefully work my way up to one of the larger mountains! I love to plan but trying not to get too far ahead of myself (don't want to take all the fun away) so will list my books closer to jan I think.

No pressure on making the list. This is one challenge that I don't make my list ahead of time. I tried that my first year and found myself changing it up. So now I just list the steps as the come.

Yeah, I've been planning too much this year and then put myself under pressure to do things when I'm so busy!

Laurel wrote: "Ok, so I'm going to start small and hopefully work my way up to one of the larger mountains! I love to plan but trying not to get too far ahead of myself (don't want to take all the fun away) so wi..."

Good luck! I agree with starting small & avoid the stress of feeling over-committed.

Thanks Leslie! And hello! *waves*

Hello from central Canada, back to both you ladies Laurel and Leslie! I don't have time to pitch a tent yet but you bet I'm in the group. :) I'm finishing Christmas cards, wrapping presents in a flurry, and have 4 more novels to hit an unexpected 2013 goal. Carolyn.

Hi Carolyn, hope you are having fun - I love wrapping presents, it makes me feel really Christmassy! See you on the slopes ;)

Would you like to fly to Manitoba and finish mine, as I print Christmas letters, still handwrite in cards, and finish those 100 books at night? Hehehe! This is why I'm doing my challenges in February. I'm tying-up those in which I'm a guest, then 2014 sign-ups to my loyal hostesses.... Yeah, could you get here by tonight? I'll go into the city and pick you up. *HUGS*!

Laurel wrote: "Hi Carolyn, hope you are having fun - I love wrapping presents, it makes me feel really Christmassy! See you on the slopes ;)"

Ugh - wrapping presents is one of my least favorite parts of Christmas ! Gift bags were invented for people like me :/ I do like seeing them all wrapped in their holiday paper - that I find cheerful; it is just getting them that way I don't like.

I like gift-wrapping. Just too many challenges ending at the same time, me tardy with cards. I'm saving the last cards for tomorrow, then gift-wrapping. I wish Laurel really were flying in. Hope she likes 7 cats. LOL!

Sorry, having a bit of trouble finding a last min flight from the UK! Maybe next year and I can drop by Leslie's and wrap her's for her as well ;)

1. Brandon Sanderson - The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3)

2. HG Wells - The Island of Doctor Moreau

Laurel wrote: "2. HG Wells - The Island of Doctor Moreau"

And I see that you liked it - have you read other Wells books, and if so, how did this compare?

Ladies! :) You know what, I sold that novel to my favourite used store last week. It saw is about vivisection, the greatest grief for animal rights activists like me. I can't read even implications of upsetting animals' feelings. I have to stick to happier stuff but good on you getting through it. Can't wait to see your next titles.

@Leslie - I did really enjoy it but my favourite is still The Time Machine. I read that when I was about 11/12 and absolutely loved it. But this one was interesting in looking at what divides us from animals (or not) although of course the ideas of the time Wells wrote are different to now.
@C - I don't like (or agree with) vivisection either but it was still a good story - Moreau's experiments and abuse of those animals ended in his death at the hands of one of them which I thought was very apt

Of course. It isn't about liking subject matter. It is just that I'm too sensitive for it, even in fiction. The ever-present human body in a typical mystery though? No problem - LOL!

Ha ha, my mum's like that - will only read a book if someone gets murdered in it!

No, just meant I can't bear death with animals but 'bodies' in mysteries are commonplace. You saw my mystery challenge page; crime is my LEAST favourite. I LOVEEEE those secret passageways, ancient secrets, ghosts....!

3. Douglas Adams - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

4. Michael McBride - Snowblind
5. Thomas Peacock - Nightmare Abbey

5 out of 12 done! You will be finished with this level before winter is over!! :)

Winter in which country? ;) Or in which province of this country above all. I seldom read males but here are quite a few.

Leslie wrote: "5 out of 12 done! You will be finished with this level before winter is over!! :)"

Am doing ok so far I think ;)

It's funny but I didn't realise until you just pointed it out C, that all the authors that I've counted for this challenge are male! I have been reading books by female authors as well this year but so far they have all been the library books which don't count so I'm not listing them here.

Laurel wrote: "Leslie wrote: "5 out of 12 done! You will be finished with this level before winter is over!! :)"

Am doing ok so far I think ;)

It's funny but I didn't realise until you just pointed it out C, t..."

My female authors have also been either library books or rereads so not counting either... strange!

It's a bit weird isn't it? I'm going to read Persuasion by Austen soon though so will soon to be remedied!

Laurel wrote: "It's a bit weird isn't it? I'm going to read Persuasion by Austen soon though so will soon to be remedied!"

Oooh that is one of my favorite Austen books! Enjoy :)

I own a few Jane but have been afraid to jump into them without someone holding my hand. I wonder if I have that one. {Carolyn glances out her bright, snowy, still Christmas-decorated window at the lovely beige library}....

Four of our dear cats walked with me to the library and three stayed to lounge in there. My "Canadian and educational" shelf is the first really visible in my photograph. Along with two Brönte novels, the Jane Austen I have are "Sense And Sensibility" and "Emma".

C. wrote: "I own a few Jane but have been afraid to jump into them without someone holding my hand. I wonder if I have that one. {Carolyn glances out her bright, snowy, still Christmas-decorated window at t..."

I find Austen pretty easy to read, so I would encourage you to dive in :)

6. Jae Austen - Persuasion

Really enjoyed this one, I find Austen to be a nice easy read Carolyn so I would just go for it!

Have both of my "L" ladies read the two I have? Perhaps we could skip along together. Three girls in three countries paying tribute to Ms. Austen! :-)

C. wrote: "Have both of my "L" ladies read the two I have? Perhaps we could skip along together. Three girls in three countries paying tribute to Ms. Austen! :-)"

LOL! I think I have read all of Austen's novels at least twice, but then again, I first read her ~35 years ago :)

Laurel, you are halfway through your challenge and it isn't even the end of the first month yet! Congrats!

Hey ! This is the first time that i'm doing a reading challenge.
For now, i'm reading the fifth volume of the saga of the Game of Thrones : A dance with Dragons.

I'm planning to read at least 2 non fiction, 1 philosophy and 2 japonese books. I'll see the rest later.

@Carolyn - I've read both of those when I was a teenager, and re-read Sense and Sensibility just last November which I enjoyed more than I remembered!

@Yvan - how are you liking A Dance with Dragons? I love the Song of Ice and Fire Series - hopefully it won't be too long a wait for the next one! Good Luck with your challenge :)

7. Graham Joyce - Some Kind of Fairy Tale

You're the sweetest. Can't wait until we launch my themes in two weeks! I'm saving my paranormal-leaning material for "Ethereal". :) Good night from Canada. Carolyn.

@Laurel I really love this one. There's not as much action as in A Clash of Kings for exemple, but we discover new land that we were just talking about before. There's new protagonists, that are as always charismatics.
So yeah I like this one

8. Cassandra Clare - City of Bones
9. Marisha Pessl - Night Film

You are nearing the top of your peak! Good going - I have been unable to resist the siren call of my local library this month...

10. George Eliot - Daniel Deronda

I'm going to move up and set myself a new target, I could probably have finished already but the Eliot novel was loooong - although it was also brilliant!

It's good to see you on the board, Laurel! I've been meaning to e-mail and ask how you are. Be sure to add your shelf or profile URL to my 3 group sign-up buttons. I'm dropping the first "RIEDEL Clue" soon and related activities for "Ethereal" and "Gentle Spectrums". :)

11. Ruth Ozeki - A Tale for the Time Being
12. ML Stedman - The Light Between Oceans

DONE!!!!!
Moving up now :)

@ Carolyn - I keep meaning to go back and sign up but haven't actually read anything that fits yet! Will get there eventually....

Laurel wrote: "11. Ruth Ozeki - A Tale for the Time Being
12. ML Stedman - The Light Between Oceans

DONE!!!!!
Moving up now :)"

Congratsss! Woo!

It's worth signing up well before you review any related novels. I hinted to everyone, stalled as long as possible, then did one contest in "My Kind Of Mystery". Second hint: the others are next. LOL! Titles on your list of 13 already fit several categories of "Gentle Spectrums". :)

How did you like the Stedman?