Historically, I’ve been terrible at fulfilling reading challenges, but I’m determined to do some things differently in 2017. One of my goals is to spend more time reading books and less time on social media.
Not that I’m anti-social media – it’s allowed me to connect with readers, re-connect with old friends and access hundreds of useful articles. However, in reflecting on 2016, I can see big chunks of time when I could have been reading a good book instead of being sucked into the social media vortex.
So, with the aim of reading more and scrolling less, I have signed up for several reading challenges in 2017.
2017 Australian Women Writers Challenge
I have signed up (hopefully with more success this year) for the Australian Women Writers Challenge at the Stella level, which involves reading four books by Australian women and reviewing three of them.
There are four levels of the Challenge to choose from:
- Stella: read 4 – if reviewing, review at least 3
- Miles: read 6 – if reviewing, review at least 4
- Franklin: read 10 – if reviewing, review at least 6
- Create your own challenge: nominate your own goal
Hopefully, I will fulfill the modest requirements of the Stella this coming year. Who knows: I may even surpass it!
2017 Mount TBR Challenge and TBR Dare
I also have a huge to-read pile sitting on my bookshelves. They include books I’ve bought at writers festivals and other new releases I couldn’t resist, as well as those I purchased from a closing down sale at a second-hand bookshop, and hand-me-downs from a friend leaving town. For that reason, I’m joining the 2017 Mount TBR Challenge and the TBR Dare. They are really variations on a theme; both are invitations to read from your existing to-be-read pile. The main difference is that the TBR Dare is for the first three months of the year, and the Mount TBR Challenge continues on until December.
The Mount TBR Challenge invites you participate at various levels:
Pike’s Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile
Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile
Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR piles
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile
Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile
Another blogger, Brona, from Brona’s Books, has added her own level, Mt Kosciuszko, which involves reading 6 books. I like the Australian connection, so I’m adopting it. In the Mount TBR Challenge, all books must be from your own bookshelf prior to 1 January and cannot include library books.
The TBR Dare is simply that for the first three months of 2017, I read only books already on my TBR pile. Apparently, this doesn’t prevent you from buying books; you just can’t read them until 1 April. It also allows certain exceptions, such as book club choices and reserved library books, which is just as well because I belong to two book clubs and have several titles from my local library awaiting my attention.
I’ll let you know how I go!
Over to You
What are you planning to read in 2017?
Plenty of appealing titles in your TBR sample, Melinda. (I do like the idea of climbing the mountainous books already acquired, rather than being propelled into yet more acquisitions!) Of those pictured in your array of covers, one I found especially engaging to read is Miranda Mouillot’s 50-Year Silence. I chaired a session featuring her at last year’s Perth Writers Festival and wrote briefly about her book on my blog (http://ianreid-author.com/wars-yet-instalment-1/) – so would be interested to compare impressions when you’ve read her family memoir. Meanwhile, happy new book year!
Hi Ian, thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I’m not sure whether it’s the same panel you chaired, but I bought Miranda Mouillot’s A Fifty-Year Silence as a direct result of hearing her at the 2015 Perth Writers Festival. I’d never heard of her until then, but was so impressed by the entire session that I headed straight to the bookshop and bought both 50 Year Silence as well as Boy, Lost by Kristina Olsson, who appeared on the same panel. Will certainly let you know my thoughts after reading it.
That’s a very impressive TBR pile, Melinda. You will have a good time with some of those books.
Hi Maureen, sorry for the delay in replying. I’ve been in Tassie with very poor internet connection; enough to read and approve your comment, but not enough to post a comment. I’m looking forward to my TBR pile – and the picture is just a fraction of wonderful books already on my bookshelf. I was in a bookshop yesterday, and it was so difficult to resist buying new titles … so many good books around!