Stacy's 2014 TBR Challenge List

Hello all! Just found out about this group and it coincides nicely with my desire to read more of the books I already own as well as with the ROOT challenge group I'm a member of.

I'm actually hoping to read all of these and they are tentatively scheduled for one challenge or another but life has a funny way of getting in the way of my reading plans so we shall see what happens.

The list for 2014

1. Come Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie (May)
2. Brainiac by Ken Jennings (February)
3. Neuromancer by William Gibson (2015)
4. Cocktail Time by P.G. Wodehouse (February)
5. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (October)
6. On Beauty by Zadie Smith (December)
7. Death by Sudoku by Kaye Morgan (December)
8. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman (February)
9. Cold Quarry by Andy Straka (June)
10. In the Woods by Tana French (June)
11. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (July)
12. I Will Repay by Emmuska Orczy (February)

Alternatives

1. The Draining Lake by Arnaldur Indriaason (October)
2. The Portrait by Iain Pears (December)
3. Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta (January)
4. Headhunters by Jo Nesbo (April)
5. Whiskey Rebels by David Liss (TBD)
6. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (October)
7. Bleak House by Charles Dickens (January)
8. The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey (August)
9. James Buchanan by Jean Baker (March)
10. The Passage by Justin Cronin (2015)
11. The Walled Flower by Lorraine Bartlett ( February)
12. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (July)

Yay for more folks wandering in! :D

Ah I read Jekyll and Hyde this year finally. Even knowing the gist of the story as we all do these days, it still has plenty of thrills! I really enjoyed it. :)

I'm a Christie fan but never heard of that one; now I understand why, it's a memoir! Neuromancer, The Woman in White, Bleak House and the Maltese Falcon are on my TBR pile. Flowers for Algernon is great. I liked Jekyll and Hyde, probably the best I've read by Stevenson (prefer it to Treasure Island and Kidnapped.)

>4 Cecrow: Was the one you read just the single story (of Jekyll & Hyde)? My copy had a few others (The Merry Men collection), a couple of which were not worth the effort but others were quite good, like Will o' the Mill, Markheim, Olalla, and The Treasure of Franchard. :)

>5 .Monkey.:, has a few others I haven't gotten to. The introduction pretty much referred to them disparagingly, which I found kind of odd. Aren't you supposed to sell the volume you're introducing? It did say one was excellent, but I forget which and haven't read it.

>4 Cecrow: - I'm a Christie fan as well so am looking forward to finally reading her memoir. Not sure why it's been sitting on my shelf for so many years. Good to hear the positive remarks for Algernon and Jekyll and Hyde.

>6 Cecrow: hah, might be the same one. My intro claimed that a couple of them were practically unparalleled (these were the ones I thought were miserable!!) and the rest you "could plainly see he was just getting his start" or some junk like that, when those were the ones that were quite good! I rail at the nameless introducer in my review, lmao.

>7 LittleTaiko: That Christie memoir sounds quite interesting. I've heard good things about her later bio from others on LT, but I don't think I've seen this one mentioned before. You'll have to report back on that!

Welcome, Stacy! I'll second the Flowers for Algernon rave (it's one of my all-time favorite novels, actually). The Maltese Falcon is excellent as well.

life has a funny way of getting in the way of my reading plans

Yeah, I think all of us know how that feels. :(

Book #1 - already going to the alternate list. How is that for being fickle on day 1?

Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta

Book #2 - So excited to find out that I had included Bleak House on my Alternative list. Nice to know I can cross another book off the list.

Bleak House by Charles Dickens - have had this book sitting around for quite a few years. So happy it's finally been read and appreciated.

Book #3 - Day 2 of February and another book completed! It helps that it was a mystery and that today is a cold, rainy day. Perfect for reading a cozy mystery.

The Walled Flower by Lorraine Bartlett - an ebook that I've had for at least one year. Nice solid story but nothing to get too excited about.

I'm reading Dickens once a year in order of publication and I'm only as far as The Old Curiosity Shop in 2014, but I'm looking forward to his later novels like Bleak House that many people identify as their favourites.

I' ve been trying to do the same thing but did go out of order to read Bleak House. From what I remember of when I read Tale of Two Cities in high school it is still my favorite Dickens though we'll see if I feel the same when I finally reread it. So far all of his books have been pretty good with the exception of Martin Chuzzelwit, for some reason I just couldn't finish that one.

Oh, reading him in order, what a great idea. Maybe that's what I'll do with the ones I haven't read.

There's definitely a progression from The Pickwick Papers to Oliver Twist, etc. I like following along with bits of his biography as I move ahead to each book. I'd love to read a complete biography of Dickens (or see the upcoming movie), but it's sort of spoilerish and will have to wait. I don't want to know too much of his mindset or life story in advance.

Hadn't thought of following along with his biography but that would add something to overall understanding of why he wrote what he did at that particular time.

Book #4 - Finally a book cleared from my original 12 list and it was such a fun book! Love PG Wodehouse.

Cocktail Time by P. G. Wodehouse - have had this for several years and wish I hadn't waited so long to read it. Full of his usual humor, relationship difficulties, and misunderstandings all around.

>17 LittleTaiko:, I haven't read bits from a formal biography, but I do read the introductions written (by various) for each book and they give a lot of insight about where he was at in his writing career, how the book was received at the time of publication, etc. Added up, I guess they're a sort of running biographical commentary as I proceed. Once in a while I trip on a spoiler ("so-and-so's death in this book wasn't nearly as well portrayed as he did with so-and-so in a later book", etc.) but I can live with those.

>18 LittleTaiko:, I have that problem nearly every year, trying to predict the twelve titles I'll most eagerly read - only to delve into the alternates or go off list entirely, lol

>17 LittleTaiko:, 19, I read Ackroyd's biography for a course years ago, and found it said as much about Ackroyd as it did about Dickens. Obsessions and the like. I would still recommend it, when you are ready to go there.

I've got my eye on the recently published Charles Dickens: A Life by Claire Tomalin. One LT reviewer says "This is a much more readable biography than Peter Ackroyd's monumental 1144 page book that I read over a period of two and a half months in 2009. That was too detailed and both exhaustively and exhaustingly long winded, whereas Tomalin covers the many facets of Dickens's life and literary career very effectively in just over 400 pages."

Book #5 - all I can say is that this winter has been very conducive to reading which has helped my attach of the TBR list!

I read The Scarlet Pimpernel a couple of years ago which I adored, so i bought the next couple of Pimpernel books which then sadly languished on my TBR list. Finally read I Will Repay which was a cute follow up book.

I had no idea there was a sequel. Wait ... there's twelve of them??? Wow.

I know, right? Had no idea there were so many until somebody on LT told me. Not sure if I'll get through all of them, but do have the third book already. Looking forward to seeing how that one is. Maybe it'll be on next year's TBR challenge!

Book #6 - intended to read this in March but just couldn't help moving it up a month.

For my 2014 Category Challenge group, one of my categories is books selected for me by other people from my TBR list.
I've had Brainiac on my shelf for a couple of years and one of my friends decided that this was one that I needed to read this year. This book was such fun to read, especially if you have any interest in trivia, game shows, and a love of learning things. Ken Jennings is a surprisingly entertaining author who not only tells the story of his record breaking run on Jeopardy but on the history of trivia and the various forms you can find it in throughout the world.

I remember his streak - pretty amazing.

Book #7 - finished this in February but am late posting

Finally read The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman, a book I received a few years ago as a Christmas gift. Not really much of a mystery but more of a Navajo thriller, I suppose. Enjoyable story that kept me entertained, though I don't know if I'm anxious to seek out the rest of the series.

You're a reading machine!

Book #8

I've been trying to read in order a biography of each of the presidents. An interesting project but one that is taking longer than anticipated. It's been over a year since the last one I read so it was high time to tackle James Buchanan by Jean Baker. Definitely not one of our better presidents though it was still an interesting, yet brief read.

>29 LittleTaiko: What a fun reading project! I know hardly anything about our past presidents, so I may have to steal that idea from you :)

>29 LittleTaiko:, I'm curious about that too (even though I'm Canadian, lol.) Are you reading them in the order of their presidency?

It has been a fun project - there is a group on LT that started the whole project. Initially we were supposed to read them all in four years. Now, it's more of a read them at your own pace kind of thing. You don't have to read them in order, in fact I had already read a Theodore Roosevelt and Obama book before starting. I am reading them in order now. Next up is Lincoln!

For Lincoln I'd imagine you'll have a lot to choose from. I'd like to try Team of Rivals, probably a popular choice for him.

Funny that you mention that - Team of Rivals is the book I'm planning on reading. It has so many positive reviews, the movie was great, and I already own it. All pluses!

Book #9

Sadly, Headhunters by Jo Nesbo is a book that should have remained in the TBR pile. Then again, I would have always wondered if I was missing something. At least it's one book off the list.

Ack, hate it when that happens. Especially when it's been in my TBR pile for a long, long time and I keep saying I've really got to read that someday. Then I finally do and ... that's it? I waited for that!? But you've pinned it exactly: the not-knowing would be worse.

Book #10

Finally finished another book off the list - Come Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie. This was a delightful look at her time with her husband on a dig in Syria. Full of interesting characters and humor, it was fun to see the non-mystery side of Christie.

Books #11 & #12

Finally got around to reading a couple of mysteries that I've had for a while - In the Woods by Tana French and Cold Quarry by Andy Straka. Both were okay but not books that make me want to read more by the authors.

12/24: you're on schedule! Good on you!

I see you've got Jekyll and Hyde coming up next month. I read that earlier this year, and I'd like to add my voice to the ones upthread (>3 .Monkey.: and >4 Cecrow:): it's a tight and solid read.

The Woman in White I recall as a little more plodding than The Moonstone, but it's a great book nonetheless, and it features a more memorable cast of characters (especially Marian and count Fosco).

Book #13

I remember buying The Maltese Falcon many years ago while on a trip but for some reason have never read it until now. I'm not a huge fain of the old-time noir books, but this one was fairly entertaining. Hammett wrote the book almost like he knew this was going to be a movie or play someday. Now, I need to see the movie to see how it compares.

On my TBR pile, good to hear positive things about it. :)

>40 LittleTaiko:

Glad you enjoyed it. It's probably my favorite Hammett novel. 8)

Book #14

I couldn't believe how different from what I was expecting and how short The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was. Going in, my main source of knowledge was the musical based on the story. The musical really takes just a kernel of the story and creates a completely different world. Once I got reset my expectations, which didn't take too long, I really enjoyed this tale of the two sides of a personality going horrible wrong.

I no longer remember it very clearly, but I do recall it surprised me too.

Book #15

Finally got around to reading The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey. Not really sure when I bought this but think it may have been in 2005 at the Chicago Bouchercon convention. Yikes! I'm glad I read it - the narration was a bit different and it took a while for me to warm to the main character but yet I had a hard time putting it down and was caught up in the story. Maybe not the strongest police procedural mystery but a pretty solid one overall.

Book #16

Loved Flowers for Algernon! I bought this a few years ago and for some reason never got around to reading it. Very happy to have this challenge so I finally get read some of these hidden gems. Originally published in 1959, the story of Charlie and Algernon doesn't come across as dated as it could have. Somehow this still works overall in today's world.

>46 LittleTaiko:

Yeah, I think that's going to be read for a long, long time. It is probably the most heartrending work of fiction I have ever read.

>46 LittleTaiko:, an excellent little study into the nature of happiness. If money can't buy it, can intelligence? Should we just leave well enough alone?

Book #17

One more down - read The Draining Lake by Arnaldur Indriaason - a solid Icelandic mystery that explores communism/socialism in Iceland as well as the continuing drama in the detectives personal lives.

I was really going to try to read all 24 books on my list, but have decided to book Neuromancer and The Passage to next year's list. I'm doing a Science Fiction Fantasy challenge next year and should be able to use these books then. Plus, I just don't see me getting to them this year.

>49 LittleTaiko:, Iceland probably made for a great setting!
>50 LittleTaiko:, Is this a group I should know about, Science Fiction and Fantasy Challenge?

>51 Cecrow: - It's part of the 2015 Category Challenge. There is a specific challenge within that group for next year that is built around Science Fiction and Fantasy books. The specific topics per month are as follows:

January -- Other Pasts -- Steampunk, Gas Lamp and other historical SFFF

February -- The Classics -- SFFF Written before 1980

March It's the End of the World As We Know It -- Apocalyptic, Dystopic and Post-Apocalyptic Novels

April -- Fair Tales and Mighty Myths -- Fairy Tales and Myths

May -- Girl Power -- SFFF Written By Women or featuring a strong female main character

June -- Does Anybody Know What Time It Is? -- Time Travel & Alternative History

July -- Critters and Creatures -- Non-Humans from Aliens to Dragons

August -- Other Worlds

September -- Slightly Out of Wack -- Slipstream and Interstitial (This includes Magic Realism and Genre Benders)

October -- What Was That? -- Supernatural, Paranormal and the Just Plain Inexplicable (Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy and Gothic)

November -- Off on a Quest -- Heros, Superheroes, Puzzles and Epic Journeys

December -- Under the Influence -- Influential and/or Award Winning and Award Nominated SFFF

My experience with science fiction is fairly limited but this seemed like a good way of broadening my horizons. Feel free to join in if you are interested!

Book #18

Finally finished The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - enjoyable, melodramatic story that for some reason took me forever to get through. I kept getting distracted by other books which may have been caused by the 600 plus pages in this one.

I haven't tried Collins yet; was thinking either that one or The Moonstone.

>52 LittleTaiko: That sounds really fun! I may join.

It sounds fun to me too, but I'd have to fill up my 2015 TBR challenge with the same titles, given my reading speed. Can't do it. :(

Book #19

Finally finished another one of my challenge books - The Portrait by Iain Pears. This was a short, suspenseful tale told entirely in the form of a one-sided conversation. Personally, I found this book fascinating and enjoyed it quite a bit. Loved the building tension as the book neared it's inevitable conclusion. However, I can see where this book wouldn't work for everybody.

>57 LittleTaiko: I have a copy of that on the shelf. Sounds good.

>58 ipsoivan: - I think it's a book you either enjoy or hate the writing style. For me it worked and I found it to be quite suspenseful.

Book #20

Well, the best thing that can be said about Death by Sudoku is that I finished it. It wasn't horrible but it didn't really add much to my life either. It was perfect for reading on an airplane though as it was a light, somewhat silly mystery with enjoyable enough characters.

>57 LittleTaiko:
I love Pears' historical novels. The Portrait is his shortest offering so far, but The Dream of Scipio is my favourite.

#61 by @Petroglyph> I'm looking forward to The Dream of Scipio.

Ah, yes, I liked The Dream of Scipio, but remember An Instance at the Fingerpost even more fondly.

Have a faint recollection of having read An Instance at the Fingerpost many years ago. Will have to check out The Dream of Scipio.

Book #21

Had a real mental block against reading On Beauty which is why I put it on the list for this year as a sort of encouragement to read it. Not sure why I was so hesitant to read it as I actually enjoyed it overall. Not one of my favorites, but it kept me reading and made me think a little bit along the way.

Final book for the year! Didn't read the full list of 24 but at least made a good showing. Ready for next year's challenge.

You did really great with your challenge. Congratulations!

:)

>66 billiejean: - Thanks!

>67 artturnerjr: - Love that picture! Thank you so much.

Great job! Now relax and enjoy your holidays :)

Congratulations! And in time to kick back for the holidays, too!