Tag: TBR

This annual challenge, run by my namesake Cathy at 746 Books, takes place between 1st June and 1st September.  The rules are simple: pick 10, 15 or 20 books you’d like to read and read them!

Although the rules are accommodating – allowing swaps, change of target, etc – I stubbornly decided to stick to my original list (see below) consisting of the 20 paperback books that have been in my TBR pile the longest according to Goodreads.

First the good news. Between 1st June and 31st August I read 39 books. The bad news is only five of them were on my list and one of those I still need to write a review for. Was I overly optimistic? Yes. Did I start reading books from my list too late? Yes. Did I fail to take account of other review commitments? Yes. Will I try again next year? Yes!

Thanks to Cathy for hosting the challenge once again.

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The Cleaner of Chartres by Salley Vickers Read and reviewed
The Boy Who Saw by Simon Toyne Read and reviewed
The Women of the Castle by Jessica Shattuck Read and reviewed
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley Read and reviewed
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio Read – not yet reviewed
Island of Secrets by Patricia Wilson Currently reading
The Plague Charmer by Karen Maitland  (waiting since May 2017)
The House of Birds by Morgan McCarthy (waiting since July 2017)
The Honey Farm on the Hill by Jo Thomas (waiting since August 2017)
Rivals of the Republic by Annelise Freisenbruch (waiting since August 2017)
The Girl from Simon’s Bay by Barbara Mutch (waiting since September 2017)
My Mother’s Shadow by Nikola Scott (waiting since October 2017)
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (waiting since October 2017)
Treason by James Jackson (waiting since November 2017)
The Draughtsman by Robert Lautner (waiting since March 2018)
The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle by Kirsty Wark (waiting since March 2018)
The Painter of Souls by Philip Kazan (waiting since April 2018)
Appetite by Philip Kazan (waiting since April 2018)
Ponti by Sharlene Teo (waiting since April 2018)
Where Roses Never Die by Gunnar Staalesen (waiting since May 2018)

If you took part in the challenge, how did you get on? (Better than me, I hope.)

This annual challenge is run by my namesake Cathy at 746 Books.  This year it takes place between 1st June and 1st September 2022.  I’ve participated for the past few years but only managed to complete it once, last year in fact.

As (the other) Cathy explains, the rules are simple.  Take the Books of Summer image, pick your own 10, 15 or 20 books you’d like to read and add your link to Cathy’s master post so she knows you’re taking part.

The rules are accommodating as well.  Want to swap a book? Go for it.  Fancy changing your list half way through? No problem.  Deciding to drop your goal from 20 to 15? She’s fine with that too.

I’m aiming for the full 20 once again. This year I’m targeting the paperback books that have been in my TBR pile the longest according to Goodreads. Most are books I bought myself; a few (whisper) are review copies. All have been there an embarrassingly long time. Why just paperbacks? Well, because they’re double-stacked at the moment and it looks untidy! If I enjoy them and think I might want to read them again, they’ll go back on the bookshelf.  If not, they’ll go on the pile for the charity bookshop.

You can find my list below.  Links from the titles will take you to the book description on Goodreads. I’ll update them with links to my reviews when – note, not if – I’ve read them.

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The Cleaner of Chartres by Salley Vickers Read and reviewed
The Boy Who Saw by Simon Toyne Read and reviewed
The Women of the Castle by Jessica Shattuck Read and reviewed
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (waiting since March 2017) Read and reviewed
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio (waiting since April 2017) Read and reviewed
Island of Secrets by Patricia Wilson (waiting since April 2017) Read and reviewed
The Plague Charmer by Karen Maitland  (waiting since May 2017) Read and reviewed
The House of Birds by Morgan McCarthy (waiting since July 2017) Read and reviewed
The Honey Farm on the Hill by Jo Thomas (waiting since August 2017) DNF
Rivals of the Republic by Annelise Freisenbruch (waiting since August 2017) Read and reviewed
The Girl from Simon’s Bay by Barbara Mutch (waiting since September 2017) Read and reviewed
My Mother’s Shadow by Nikola Scott (waiting since October 2017) Read – review to follow
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (waiting since October 2017)
Treason by James Jackson (waiting since November 2017)
The Draughtsman by Robert Lautner (waiting since March 2018)
The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle by Kirsty Wark (waiting since March 2018)
The Painter of Souls by Philip Kazan (waiting since April 2018)
Appetite by Philip Kazan (waiting since April 2018)
Ponti by Sharlene Teo (waiting since April 2018)
Where Roses Never Die by Gunnar Staalesen (waiting since May 2018) Read – review to follow

Wish me luck! If you’re taking part too, enjoy your summer of reading.