SPRING READING THING: Still Working on my TBR Mountain

March20

Spring Reading Thing

Katrina over at Callapidder Days is hosting her sixth annual Spring Reading Thing. It’s a fun, low-pressure reading challenge open to anyone and everyone. It will take place March 20th-June 20th (which is, not-so-coincidentally, the spring of 2012).

To participate, I need to create a list of some books I’d like to read or finish this spring. I have to list specific books. I can feel free to set some additional reading, but that’s optional.

Until March 31st, I’m still participating in C.B.’s Double Dare where the rule is that from Jan 1 to April 1, 2012, I can read only books that were in my TBR pile on December 31st. (Library books were allowed only if they were in my possession or on my holds list at 12:00 A.M. on Jan. 1.)

But it’s that “Library Holds List Loophole” that’s kept this challenge from being as effective as I had hoped. I thought I thinned that list in December, but it seems that there’s always something (completely within the rules) from the library demanding my attention and keeping me from making any real headway on Mount TBR.

So for the Spring Reading Thing, I’m committing to read a number of books from my December 31st TBR pile. Two are chunksters; and since there are still a couple of books coming from the library, I’ve included those. AND I’m including some books that were wins since January and that I’ve been anxiously waiting to start.

Currently reading:
Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan

From Mount TBR
White River Junctions by Dave Norman
The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
The Canadian Food Guide by Pierre and Janet Berton
Stephen Leacock: His Remarkable Life by Albert Moritz and Theresa Moritz
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Mapping of Love and Death (Maisie Dobbs, Book 7) by Jacqueline Winspear
One Lonely Night by Mickey Spillane

Library Books:
Broken Music: A Mystery by Marjorie Eccles
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor
Th1rteen r3asons why by Jay Asher

New arrivals (wins, gifts & ARCs)
The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston
African Love Stories: An Anthology edited by Ama Ata Aidoo
Oxford Messed Up by Andrea Kayne Kaufman
Manners for Women by Mrs. Humphrey
Murder: A Crafty Business by Lila Phillips

I’m doing my level best to have these all read by June 20th. I’m also committing to keeping up with my personal Bible reading schedule. Let’s see how I do!

What about you? What are your spring reading plans?

posted under Book stuff, Reading Challenges 2012

24 Comments to

“SPRING READING THING: Still Working on my TBR Mountain”

On March 20th, 2012 at 10:46 am S Says:
Oh I have Maisie Dobbs #5 on my list. I like the idea of a Double Dare challenge – I would hate to think how many of my listed books are still ignored on the shelf. Enjoy tackling your stack.
On March 20th, 2012 at 12:02 pm Debbie Says:
I so enjoyed Maisie Dobbs #5, Susanne!
On March 20th, 2012 at 10:58 am Vailly Says:
What a beautiful blog! I totally forgot about mentioning C.B.’s Double Dare challenge. I totally failed it because of my library books. 🙂 How’s Half-Blood Blues so far? I’ve been meaning to read it. Happy reading.
On March 20th, 2012 at 12:09 pm Debbie Says:
Thanks for the kind words, Vasilly! I’m really liking the voice in Half-Blood Blues as well as the jazz references – what fun!
On March 20th, 2012 at 10:58 am Jen E @ mommablogsalot Says:
Great list! I tried to read Jane Eyre a few years ago but couldn’t get into it, but I’ve been thinking about giving it another try sometime. Good luck with your challenge!
On March 20th, 2012 at 12:10 pm Debbie Says:
Jen, everybody keeps saying Jane Eyre is their so-favorite book but it looks intimidating to me…I’ll be sure to blog about my experience with it!
On March 20th, 2012 at 11:26 am Trish Says:
I hate it when the TBR pile becomes a mountain! Oxford Messed Up intrigues me, especially since I recently read Surprised by Oxford.
On March 20th, 2012 at 12:14 pm Debbie Says:
89 books in that mountain, Trish, plus another 17 in the ‘immediate’ pile at my bedside. Bleah! I’m looking forward to Oxford Mixed-Up – it looks ‘different’ and intriguing!
On March 20th, 2012 at 11:47 am Barbara Says:
I love the word callapidder. Reminds me of my father who often made funny words, like Whoolpearl instead of Whirlpool.

My winter was spectacularly unproductive so I’m hoping spring will see me catch up on a lot of “stuff” including reading. Just got a pile of books from Amazon Vine and wins from here and there so I’ve got my work cut out for me. Just as soon as the basketball tournament is over, I’ll get at it.
On March 20th, 2012 at 12:18 pm Debbie Says:
I love that word, too, Barbara. It sounds like something a child would say: my daughter called them catapilters. 🙂

I’m always optimistic my reading will ‘do better’ than the time just passed – lol. Hope yours is!
On March 20th, 2012 at 12:04 pm Lisa notes Says:
C.B.’s Double Dare sounds like a challenge I should have taken. ha. I keep sneaking books into my own Mount TBR. Enjoy!
On March 20th, 2012 at 12:21 pm Debbie Says:
It’s been hard, Lisa, to stick to the Double Dare. I can’t seem to stop entering giveaways (and winning), or (not) passing book stores, or supporting charity by buying used at the post office, or…
On March 20th, 2012 at 12:20 pm Janet Says:
I need to check on the Maisie Dobbs series. Sounds like something I’ll enjoy. Good luck on your spring reading!
On March 20th, 2012 at 12:49 pm Debbie Says:
I can’t imagine anyone who likes mysteries not enjoying Maisie Dobbs, Janet. Hope you like her too!
On March 20th, 2012 at 1:05 pm Heather Says:
Oh the library! I am not sure why all of my books seem to come at once, but they do. And it is never a good mixture of both fiction and non-fiction, it will usually be a stack of long non-fiction books about food. Think about reading several books like the China Study in a 3 week window…not very easy 🙂 I will definitely be adding some of your “piles” into my list though!
On March 20th, 2012 at 1:21 pm Debbie Says:
I know, Heather! I wish there was some way to control the order of my library holds list [sigh]

I’m glad my ‘piles’ intrigued you!
On March 20th, 2012 at 3:51 pm Susanne Says:
I hear ya, my TBR list never gets smaller as I’m always adding to it. Yeesh! Enjoy the ones you’ve picked!
On March 20th, 2012 at 4:38 pm Debbie Says:
Sad, but true, Susanne! I’m trying to have at least one book go out of the house for every one that comes in, but it’s a struggle. 😉
On March 21st, 2012 at 10:56 pm Andrew Blackman Says:
I’m not much of a planner, but your plans sound great! I was interested to see you’re reading Half Blood Blues – it was a book I enjoyed, but not as much as I thought I would. Will be interested to hear what you made of it.
On March 22nd, 2012 at 7:13 am Debbie Says:
Much the same, Andrew: I did enjoy it – very much, but I wasn’t blown away the way I expected I would be. An example of too much hype and too high expectations? Maybe, but I did try to keep my hopes for the book reasonable. Perhaps I’ll discuss this more in my review. Thanks for dropping by!
On March 23rd, 2012 at 2:08 pm Nan Says:
My goodness, do you ever eat or sleep? I’m amazed at how much you read.
I’m a big Maisie fan.
My daughter said cadderpidder, and I was so tickled when I first came upon that blog.
On March 23rd, 2012 at 2:49 pm Debbie Says:
Eat – lots, sleep – not so much, Nan. That’s where the reading time cuts in…lol
On March 26th, 2012 at 1:56 pm Tiffany Says:
Happy Reading! 🙂
On March 26th, 2012 at 2:29 pm Debbie Says:
Thanks, Tiffany!