tbr-reading-challenge discussion

Hi all, I'm Allison and I just stumbled upon this group (through The Book Challenge group) and I was inspired by everyone whittling down their TBR shelves! I'm constantly adding to mine but here's a few books from my TBR shelf that I absolutely have to read during the course of my 24th year challenge (see The Book Challenge group for that, but basically I'm reading 72 books starting 11/3/2008, for my 24th year times 3, my lucky #). I wish all of you luck on yours and I can't wait to see how you all like your books!

1. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
2. The History of Love - Nicole Krauss
3. The Glass Castle - Jeanette Walls
4. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
5. Second Glance = Jodi Picoult
6. The Abstinence Teacher - Tom Perrotta
7. Little Children - Tom Perrotta
8. Hard Times - Charles Dickens
9. Sweet Thursday - John Steinbeck
10. Joy In The Morning - Betty Smith
11. The Yiddish Policeman's Union - Michael Chabon
12. Emma - Jane Austen
13. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
14. Everything Is Illuminated - Jonathan Safran Foer
15. Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen
16. Fear of Flying - Erica Jong
17. Love Walked In - Marisa de los Santos

...more to come!

Hi Allison! I really liked Second Glance by Jodi Picoult - have you read any of her other books? It's quite different (as in, no court scene) but still a great read.

I've attempted reading Jane Eyre twice in my life already and keep giving up so I'm putting it back on my TBR once last time and am going to hope for third time lucky! I also have Wuthering Heights on my TBR and Hard Times, which I'm reading for my English class.

Hope your challenge goes well! I've been trying to read my entire TBR across this school year (August 2008 - June 2009) but it's not going to well so far as I keep on buying more books! :P

Hi Rachel! I've read a few books by Jodi - mostly the newer/popular ones like My Sister's Keeper, The Pact, Change of Heart, The Tenth Circle and Nineteen Minutes. If you like her a lot I definitely recommend Nineteen Minutes next (although it is that courtroom scene kind of book - The Pact and The Tenth Circle aren't). I have been trying to get back to Jodi but I have so many other authors I want to try too! It's hard to get them all in!

I've attempted Jane Eyre a few times too - but since 3 is my lucky # I think your 3rd time will be a charm! Let me know how Hard Times is! I've had that book forever and I can't seem to get to it.

I hope your challenge goes well too! I definitely keep adding also - it's a vicious cycle but at least it's a healthy obsession, you know?! Happy reading!

I've read quite a lot of her books, but not many of her early ones as they're only just starting to be released in the UK. I read Nineteen Minutes last month and absolutely loved it - definitely my favourite of hers. The only other one from your list which I've read is The Pact, which I didn't so much as the characters really annoyed me. However, I have enjoyed Plain Truth, Perfect Match, Vanishing Acts, Keeping Faith and Salem Falls. I read Mercy and semi-enjoyed it but, like in The Pact, I found the main characters quite irritating.

I'll let you know how I get on with Jane Eyre and Hard Times. We just started reading Great Expectations in my English class and it's very amusing, and quite a quick read so we'll probably get on to Hard Times in the spring.

I don't think I'll be buying too many books at the moment as I'm trying to save my allowance for...I don't know actually, but I just don't have space for more books! And yep, it is a vicious cycle! I also borrow a lot of library books, which doesn't help my TBR shrink at all! :)

Hi Rachel,

That's interesting about them just starting to be released in the UK. I actually forgot to add Picture Perfect to that list, I liked that one (not a court scene). I totally agree about Nineteen Minutes - when Change of Heart comes out there, I think you'll like that one as well. And in March in the USA, she's releasing a new one!

Yes, good luck with those classics. I loved Gread Expectations! I thought it was a great story.

I know what you mean about buying books - I'm trying not to spend ALL of my hard-earned money but it really is difficult!

I think Change of Heart came out earlier this year but it's ALWAYS checked out in our library. Songs of the Humpback Whale has just been releaed on hardback but isn't quite as popular, but that may be because people have been ordering her older books in from the states and have already read it. I've heard about her new book - is it called Handle With Care? It sounds like one of those books where you will be constantly debating what you'd do in that situation.

I'm not exactly familiar with the story (I probably should, as it's a British classic but I was more into Louisa May Alcott and Laura Ingalls Wilder as a kid) but I think it's better that I don't know the ending when I start reading.

I'm part of BookMooch and a British website called ReaditSwapit and it's hard to resist when someone requests a book and they have something you really, really want. I eventually deactivated my books as I should be saving money for pressies. Luckily me and my school friends are doing a Secret Santa so that's one present to buy rather than six!

Okay, so I knocked The Book Thief off my TBR list - it was an amazing story. I have been spreading out my Joy Fielding books so I'm reading one of those next, but then it'll probably by Love Walked In...

Slight revision to my TBR challenge to go along with my 24th year challenge (posted in The Book Challenge group). However many books a month I read, 2 a month have to be from the pile of books I absolutely must read as they have been on my TBR shelf for waaaay too long.

Revised list of must-reads (in no particular order):

1. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
2. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
3. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
4. Hard Times - Charles Dickens
5. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Jonathan Safran Foer
6. Everything Is Illuminated - Jonathan Safran Foer
7. Love Walked In - Marisa de los Santos
8. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
9. The Abstinence Teacher - Tom Perrotta
10. Body Surfing - Anita Shreve
11. Joy In The Morning - Betty Smith
12. Sweet Thursday - John Steinbeck
13. The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls
14. The Will To Live On - Herman Wouk
15. The Yiddish Policeman's Union - Michael Chabon
16. Playing for Pizza - John Grisham

Okay, we can cross off #7, Love Walked in. Not worth waiting for, really!

I'm reading #5 now, so those are my 2 for December, but I'll probably take Water For Elephants with me when I'm in FL for Christmas.

Allison - Water for Elephants is an interesting book. When I picked it up the first time, I didn't think I'd like it and it definately wasn't anything like I normally read. But I gave it a second chance, and thought it was pretty good. I'm anxious to hear your thoughts once you read it. It's different, that's for sure. You are inspiring me to start my own list for a challenge!!

YAY BRANDIE JOINED THE GROUP!!

My mom has been begging me to try Water for Elephants but I really need to stop putting it off since so many people talk about it!

Knocked Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, I loved the story and I recommend it to everyone!

That's good to know - my sister in law just leant this book to me so I'm excited to try it! I'm glad to hear you liked it!

I did, it was much different than any other book I read but you just want to give that little boy a hug the whole time!

Yay, Water For Elephants has finally been read! I *loved* it!!

I hit my quota for 2 TBR's a month, but I'm starting Life of Pi tonight on the plane to Florida so I'll be ahead of the game in '09!

I liked Water for Elephants, too! Enjoy your holiday!!

I really need to re-do my list, because I couldn't finish Life of Pi - BORING!

I did read The Glass Castle, which I've wanted to read for a while, though. Tomorrow I'll do my new year's book resolutions!

Okay, my list is redone! I have a shelf now that's called "must-read 09" and those are the books I must read during my 72-book challenge which ends on November 3, 2009. (actually, I'm down to 58 books to read until 11/3!). Good luck everyone!!

Finished with Joy In The Morning by Betty Smith.

Finished with Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos.

Finished The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.

Finished Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Finished The Onyx by Jacqueline Briskin, and Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani

Finished #22, The First Time by Joy Fielding, and #23, Forever Liesl, by Charmian Carr.