Virtual Mount TBR Challenge 2023 discussion

Last year I once again summited Mount Seleya! But also failed my Mount TBR challenge, so again I'm aiming a little lower because I really want to succeed in Mount TBR! Let's start with Mount Mindolluin.

Some goals, copied from last year:
- Stay on top of my library stack. I've had mixed success with this lol.
- Make some progress on my get-from-library shelf.
- Make progress on my saved list on the public library website.
- Read some of the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. The library has loads of them.

Starting size of get-from-library shelf: 182
Starting size of public library list: 30

(Both those lists got slightly longer in 2022 hahaha)

I'm envious that you made it to Mount Seleya--but I know that would make reading my own books a bit harder.

Good luck with sticking to your goals and making both TBR challenges!

Thanks Bev! :)

1. Bigfoot Pirates Haunt My Balls by Chuck Tingle (podcast)

Starting this challenge off with a bang (lol) as I continue listening to Chuck Tingle books via Pounded in the Butt by My Own Podcast.

Lianne (The Towering Pile) wrote: "Thanks Bev! :)

1. Bigfoot Pirates Haunt My Balls by Chuck Tingle (podcast)

Starting this challenge off with a bang (lol) as I continue listenin..."

💀

Elyse wrote: "Lianne (The Towering Pile) wrote: "Thanks Bev! :)

1. Bigfoot Pirates Haunt My Balls by Chuck Tingle (podcast)

Starting this challenge off with ..."

I thought you might enjoy that, Elyse. XD

2. The Sandman, Vol. 3: Dream Country by Nail Gaiman (borrowed from a friend)

That completes my little stack of books borrowed from people. Now on to the stack of library books that I'm running out of renewals on!

3. Saga, Vol. 4 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (public library)

4. Guardians of Porthaven by Shane Arbuthnott (school library, MYRCA nominee)

3/10 Northern Lights nominees read, 7/20 total MYRCA nominees read. Still a way to go if I want to finish by voting time! (I can't vote, but I like to have read all the nominees.)

5. The Collectors by Alice Feagan (school library, storytime)

6. The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) by Rick Riordan (public library, audiobook)

7. Going Up! by Sherry J. Lee (school library, storytime)

8. Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for You by Jenara Nerenberg (public library, audiobook)

9. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (public library)

Right now I have no more books out from the school library, and no books borrowed from friends, but I have 11 more public library books to read. So decreasing that stack is my current little project. Some of these have been sitting on my book cart for way too long!

10. Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival (school library, storytime)

11. Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung (school library, storytime)

12. A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott (school library, storytime)

13. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4) by Rick Riordan (public library, audiobook)

14. Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli (school library)

15. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (public library, audiobook)

I loved this short audiobook! I don't remember where I saw it and how I ended up putting it on hold on Overdrive but I'm glad I did!

Lianne (The Towering Pile) wrote: "15. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (public library, audiobook)

I loved this short audiobook! I don't remember where I saw it and how I ended ..."

So good and weird and quirky! I am scared to read though. I have seen a lot of trigger warnings for it. "This has everything from emotional and physical abuse to sexual assault and molestation to incest and cannibalism. " I don't know if I'll ever be able to handle it...

Elyse wrote: "Lianne (The Towering Pile) wrote: "15. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (public library, audiobook)

I loved this short audiobook! I don't remem..."

Thanks for mentioning this one! I have put the audiobook on hold. Despite the warnings lol.

lol good luck and can't wait to see what you think!

16. Stevie Wonder by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara (school library, storytime)

17. The Fae Keeper by H.E. Edgmon (public library)

I love this duology SO MUCH I need MORE of them but it's OVER! :(

18. Saga, Vol. 5 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (public library)

19. Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price (public library, audiobook)

20. I Believe I Can by Grace Byers (school library, storytime)

21. Zombillenium, Vols. 1-2: Gretchen/Human Resources by Arthur de Pins (public library)

22. This Winter by Alice Oseman (public library)

23. How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by K.C. Davis (public library, audiobook)

24. Shy Willow by Cat Min (school library, storytime)

25. Earthlings by Sayaka Murata (public library, audiobook)

Elyse wrote: "lol good luck and can't wait to see what you think!"

OK so Earthlings was super weird and disturbing for sure lol. Like Convenience Store Woman, it explores characters feeling like outsiders in society, but this time the trauma is cranked up and the steps people take to find their own paths go off the rails. I did like it but it definitely does need a massive trigger warning. The abuse was tough to read about.

Lianne (The Towering Pile) wrote: "Elyse wrote: "lol good luck and can't wait to see what you think!"

OK so Earthlings was super weird and disturbing for sure lol. Like Convenience Store Woman, it explores characters feeling like o..."

Eep thanks for the warning! Think I'll stay away for now.

26. The Day the Rain Moved In by Éléonore Douspis (school library, storytime)

27. Saga, Vol. 6 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (public library)

28. I'm Gay for My Living Billionaire Jet Plane by Chuck Tingle (podcast)

29. The Demigod Files (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #4.5) by Rick Riordan (audiobook)

No wonder I'm behind on my Mount TBR challenge! I just noticed I'm at 29 library books in less than 3 months! Granted, a full third of those have been audiobooks, which don't take up the same reading time that physical books do. (Audiobooks are like free bonus reading time because the only other thing I could be doing with that time is listening to music or podcasts.)

30. Spring Stinks by Ryan T. Higgins (school library, storytime)

31. Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control by Dana K. White (public library, audiobook)

You are the only one on Mount Mindolluin and I am the only one on Mount Seleya! lol

Elyse wrote: "You are the only one on Mount Mindolluin and I am the only one on Mount Seleya! lol"

I saw! At this rate I'll be joining you on Mount Seleya again, despite my Mount TBR hopes lol.

Lianne (The Towering Pile) wrote: "Elyse wrote: "You are the only one on Mount Mindolluin and I am the only one on Mount Seleya! lol"

I saw! At this rate I'll be joining you on Mount Seleya again, despite my Mount TBR hopes lol."

Ooof yes, it's much easier to read library books than owned books, so weird! lol

32. Slammed in the Butt by My Handsome Laundry Detergent Pod by Chuck Tingle (podcast)

33. Drumheller Dinosaur Dance by Robert Heidbreder (school library, storytime)

34. Tatouine by Jean-Christophe Réhel (public library, audiobook)

Tatouine is currently the One eRead Canada book, so there's unlimited access to the ebook and audiobook with no hold lines. So I checked it out, and loved it! For a long time I didn't really like this sort of slice of life novel, but they've really started to grow on me.

35. When Charlie McButton Lost Power by Suzanne Collins (school library, storytime)

36. The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #5) by Rick Riordan (public library, audiobook)

37. The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett (school library, storytime)

And now for the library books I read during Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon:

38. Saga, Volume 7 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (public library, reread)

39. Dr. Stone, Vol. 7 by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi (public library)

40. Saga, Volume 8 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (public library, reread)

I haven't updated this thread in two months?? Honestly, not that surprising given the reading slump I've been in. But let's see how many library books I managed.

41. Mary Wears What She Wants by Keith Negley (school library, storytime)

42. Milo's Monster by Tom Percival (school library, storytime)

43. Batter Royale by Leisl Adams (school library)

44. Ravenous Things by Derrick Chow (school library)

2024 MYRCA Sundog nominees 1/10, total nominees 1/20

45. Creepy Crayon! by Aaron Reynolds (school library, storytime)

46. Lonely Author Pounded by Dinosaur Social Media Followers by Chuck Tingle (podcast)

47. Reamed by My Reaction to the Title of This Book by Chuck Tingle (podcast)

48. Strong by Rob Kearney (school library, storytime)

49. Hidden on the High Wire by Kathy Kacer (school library)

2024 MYRCA Sundog nominees 2/10, total nominees 2/20

50. ABC Pride by Louie Stowell (school library, storytime)

51. Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox (school library, storytime)

Flew past White Plume Mountain! Clearly should be focusing more on my TBR pile, but also just took home a big stack of library books for my summer reading. Mostly the rest of the MYRCA nominees; I'm determined that this year I'll really read them all!

I've had a little bit of a slump (classic me on summer break) but should still have a bit to update for the last month lol:

52. The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan (public library, audiobook)

Yeah, even though I thought the Percy Jackson books were just OK, I keep reading lol. Actually I think I liked this one more than the Percy books!

53. Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #2) by Tamsyn Muir (public library)

This took me even longer than the first one. I think I missed Gideon's voice too much! Still loved it though.

54. Eight Days by Teresa Toten (school library, MYRCA nominee)

2024 MYRCA Northern Lights nominees 1/10, total nominees 3/20

55. Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman (public library)

56. Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata (public library, audiobook)

57. Saga, Vol. 9 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (public library)

58. How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler by Ryan North (public library, audiobook)

The reading slump continued for the remainder of summer break. Now I'm getting into a school year rhythm again so hopefully more reading will come with that!

59. She Holds Up the Stars by Sandra Laronde (school library, MYRCA nominee)

2024 MYRCA Northern Lights nominees 2/10, total nominees 4/20

60. Let the Monster Out by Chad Lucas (public library, audiobook, MYRCA nominee)

2024 MYRCA Northern Lights nominees 3/10, total nominees 5/20

61. Fly by Alison Hughes (school library, MYRCA nominee)

2024 MYRCA Northern Lights nominees 4/10, total nominees 6/20

62. Scout Is Not a Band Kid by Jade Armstrong (school library, MYRCA nominee)

2024 MYRCA Northern Lights nominees 5/10, total nominees 7/20

Ooh, good progress on those MYRCAs if nothing else!

63. I Am Me: A Book of Authenticity by Susan Verde (school library, storytime)

64. My First Day by Phùng Nguyên Quang (school library, storytime)

65. The Deepest Dig by Mark David Smith (school library, storytime)

66. Winterkill by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (public library, audiobook, MYRCA nominee)

2024 MYRCA Northern Lights nominees 6/10, total nominees 8/20

67. 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey (school library, storytime)

68. Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems (school library, storytime)

Read during Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon:

69. Saga, Vol. 10 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (public library)

70. Lumberjanes, Vol. 19: A Summer to Remember by Shannon Watters (public library)

71. Unicornado (Phoebe and Her Unicorn #16) by Dana Simpson (school library)

72. The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd (public library, audiobook)

73. The Rock from the Sky by Jon Klassen (school library, storytime)

74. The Song That Called Them Home by David Alexander Robertson (school library, storytime)

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (public library, audiobook)

Technically this one doesn't count for the challenge, because I've counted it for Virtual Mount TBR in the past. I read the physical book before, and this time read the audiobook.

75. Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes (public library, audiobook, MYRCA nominee)

2024 MYRCA Northern Lights nominees 7/10, total nominees 9/20

And with that I summit Mount Mindolluin! I'm gonna hold off upgrading to Mount Seleya, because I don't feel super confident that I'll read another 25 library book in the next 43 days lol. (In fact, I hope I don't, because I'm really trying to at least get closer to my Mount TBR goal!)

76. Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett (school library, storytime)

77. The Color Collector by Nicholas Solis (school library, storytime)

78. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree (public library)

79. Pageboy by Elliot Page (public library, audiobook)

80. The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass (public library, audiobook)

81. Lumberjanes, Vol. 20: End of Summer by Shannon Watters (public library)

82. I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott (school library, storytime)

83. Slammed in the Butthole by My Concept of Linear Time by Chuck Tingle (podcast)

Literally posting this update when I should be going to bed because I didn't wanna do it at work tomorrow and have that search in my history. XD

Liander (The Towering Pile) wrote: "83. Slammed in the Butthole by My Concept of Linear Time by Chuck Tingle (podcast)

Literally posting this update when I sh..."

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

84. Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner (school library, storytime)

85. Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends by Kaz Windness (read before gifting)

I bought this book for my nephew for Christmas and ended up reading the whole thing before wrapping it lol. What can I say? Previewing children's books is part of my job! Anyway this book is an absolute delight.

86. The Skull by Jon Klassen (school library, storytime)

I went to the book signing for this book and heard Jon Klassen read it. I immediately decided I'd read it to some of my grade 5/6 classes. So far it's going over pretty well!

Liander (The Towering Pile) wrote: "85. Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends by Kaz Windness (read before gifting)..."

I have absolutely done this! Even box sets of children's/middle grade books I've opened and read before gifting to my nephew. Now he doesn't want books anymore. 😭 He's 12.

Harrow the Ninth (Locked Tomb #2) by Tamsyn Muir (public library, audiobook)

This one can't count because I literally already read this book earlier this year lmao. But this time, as an audiobook! I understood more this time.

87. The Giant Ice Cream Mess (Fox Tails #3) by Tina Kügler (read to my nephew)

This was the other book I got my nephew for Christmas, and I ended up reading it to him for a bedtime story a couple days ago. It was pretty good for a beginner reader type book!