tloeffler starts on the stacks

Okay, Lois, you win. Good call on this group. I was thinking that I might try to make myself read at least one book a month off my own stacks of books, and I can't resist a challenge, so I'll set a goal of 2 books per month out of my personal library, for a total of 26 (cause I'll start this month). Hope it works!




And no, I'm not a swimmer. I thought this ticker was appropriate because I'm drowning in books.

Another note: Books listed here with "*" are books off my shelf, but that weren't there when I started this challenge.

December
1. A Christmas Visitor-Anne Perry
2. The Shack-William Young
3. Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt-Anne Rice
January
1. The Day the Falls Stood Still-Cathy Marie Buchanan
2. Three Men in a Boat-Jerome K. Jerome
3. So This Is Depravity-Russell Baker
4. The Collected What If?-Robert Cowley
5. * The Moonflower Vine-Jetta Carleton
February
1.* The Surrendered-Chang-rae Lee
2.* Dangerous Spaces-Margaret Mahy
3.* The Black Cauldron-Lloyd Alexander
4. Runyon First and Last-Damon Runyon
March
1. Mrs. Dalloway-Virginia Woolf
2.* The Castle of Llyr-Lloyd Alexander
3.* From Away-David Carkeet
4.* King of the Hill: A Memoir-A.E. Hotchner
April
1.* Taran Wanderer-Lloyd Alexander
2.* Dead End Gene Pool: A Memoir-Wendy Burden
May
1.* Pearl of China-Anchee Min
2. Tales of the South Pacific-James Michener
3.* The High King-Lloyd Alexander
4. R is for Ricochet-Sue Grafton
5. * Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs-Wallace Stegner
June
1.* Afternoon of the Elves-Janet Taylor Lisle
2.* When Zachary Beaver Came to Town-Kimberly Willis Holt
3.* When the Mississippi Ran Backwards-Jay Feldman
4.* IOU: New Writing on Money-Ron Slate
5. Nicholas and Alexandra-Robert K. Massie
6.* Children of the Albatross-Anais Nin
7.* A Guide to the Birds of East Africa-Nicholas Drayson
8.* Sabriel-Garth Nix
9.* The Uncommon Reader-Alan Bennett
10.* This Must Be The Place-Kate Racculia
11. The Birthday Boys-Beryl Bainbridge
July
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings-Maya Angelou
2. Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s-Frederick Lewis Allen
3. Dave Barry's History of the Millennium (So Far)-Dave Barry
4. The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant-Douglass Wallop
5. *Lirael-Garth Nix
6. *This is Graceanne's Book--P. L. Whitney
7. Bed Riddance: A Posy for the Indisposed-Ogden Nash
8. *The Beekeeper's Apprentice-Laurie King
9. *The Proud Tower-Barbara Tuchman
10. The Thurber Carnival-James Thurber
11. *Abhorsen-Garth Nix
August
1. Forever Odd-Dean Koontz
2. *The Good Daughters-Joyce Maynard
3. *Bury Your Dead-Louise Penny
4. The Best American Essays 2005-Susan Orlean
5. Peter and the Secret of Rundoon-Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
6. The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud-Ben Sherwood
September
1. Flight of the Piasa-Raymond Scott Edge
2. *A Very Long Engagement-Sebastien Japrisot
3. *Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats-T.S. Eliot
4. *Rose in a Storm-Jon Katz
5. *She Shall Have Murder-Delano Ames
6. Devil in the White City-Erik Larson
7. *Mrs. Bridge-Evan Connell
October
1. *Ghosts of St. Charles-Michael Henry
2. The Haunting of Hill House-Shirley Jackson
3. *Different Seasons-Stephen King
4. Kahlil Gibran-His Life and World-Jean Gibran & Kahlil Gibran
5. *The Postman-David Brin
6. *Murder With Puffins-Donna Andrews
7. Siddhartha-Herman Hesse
8. *The Ghost Belonged to Me-Richard Peck
November
1. *Death at La Fenice-Donna Leon
2. *Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention-Katherine Ellison
3. *Ex Libris-Anne Fadiman
4. The Good Years: From 1900 to the First World War-Walter Lord
December
1. *A Wee Christmas Homicide-Kaitlyn Dunnett
2. A Holiday Treasury-Diana Wenk
3. Middlemarch-George Eliot

Oh, good, you're doing this too! :)

I was going to be wimpy and just say 14 or 15 books for this challenge, but I like your goal of 2 a month off the stack! (I have to face it, 14 per year would never even keep up with my annual book buying, and the pile would still grow and grow!)

I try to alternate between library books and TBR books. At one point I was very good about not buying more books and my TBR shelves shrank to an almost reasonable point. But then I started getting Borders coupons, and I got mugged by a Daedalus catalog, and my TBR shelves are in worse shape than ever. *sigh*

That Daedalus is dangerous, isn't it?! My husband particularly loves it since he is a BIG fan of non-fiction and their prices make his addiction doable.

I'm glad you'll be in the group, Terri!

I thought it might be a good idea to post a note to tell myself how many books I have listed as TBR in my collection right now (370). I refuse to promise to not buy any more books (I know that resistance is futile), but I'm going to at least try to read more than I buy. After I finish all the library books I currently have checked out......

edited to change number of TBR from 326 to 370 to account for 44 books found in May that weren't marked TBR but should have been

It is the library books that get me more than anything. So, this year I will be strong. No Library til mid-year! (Except for the Friends of the Library booksale. That sooo does not count!) I probably have 500 books sitting on my bookcase that haven't been read yet so I look forward to wading through some of them in the coming year.
Good luck and Happy Reading!

"Mugged by a Daedalus catalog". Sympathetic chuckle. I used to get those catalogs and many of my remaining TBRs are reminders of that period. I live within driving distance of the place itself and have never been. I dare not.

>6 Belladonna1975: It is the library books that get me more than anything.

That's always been a problem for me, but so much more so since finding Library Thing! I see a book someone has read, go to the library site and order it. Then, as happened to me on the last two trips, while I'm there, two or three more catch my eye!

>6 Belladonna1975:: I tried to avoid the library to read some of my books once. All that happened was I ended up buying the books I normally would have just borrowed :(

Ah well, more books for me!

9: LOL I hope that doesn't happen to me!

1. Finished my first book off the shelf! I continued my Christmas reading with A Christmas Visitor by Anne Perry. I picked it up at a Library Sale years ago. I don't seem to be a big fan of her Christmas books. I did like this better than A Christmas Journey that I read last year. I should start a ticker but I'm not up to it tonight.

Verdict: Already given away

You're off and running! Nice to have a book on the shelf that fits the season and the challenge! In that vein, I am reading Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. So far it hasn't grabbed me, but I am determined to finish it this year.

I think I was one of the few people who just didn't like Skipping Christmas.

2. Woo-hoo! At least I met my goal for the first month! I've been meaning to read The Shack all year. It was originally on the list for my book discussion group, but we've pretty much disbanded, so I read it anyway. I don't know. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't that great either. I guess the story was okay, but sometimes it went over the top.

Verdict: Giving away. My niece may want to read it; otherwise, it goes on Book Mooch.

And I'm making a new rule for myself. If I read more than 2 per month, I'm not counting them towards the next month's total. It will just be gravy for that month.
And I've decided on a methodology. If you disdain those who are OCD, you may want to skip this part. I have numbered each shelf/stack of unread books in my house. When it's time to pick a book, I will count the books on that shelf, then use a random number generator to pick which book I will read. The only exception will be if the book ends up being in the middle of a series. In that case, the choice defaults to the first unread book in that series. That should force me into some interesting selections. Each choice will be from a different shelf.

Whew. Sometimes I exhaust myself...

Whew! I thought I was the only one with a "method" for reading books off the shelf. Mine isn't quite as random as yours, I'm starting on the first shelf of fantasy/sci-fi and reading one, then the generic fiction, then the romance, and finally a non-fiction. This way I don't feel like I'm "neglecting" anyone.

I could never do it that way! I guess I'm just way too moody a reader . . . :)

My method was to just gather up all the books that had been "running around" the house in various spots, never making it on to a shelf because I always meant to read them soon. I now have two piles of books beside the sofa that I will be working through in the next year. When that is completed, I will have just as many unread books on my actual shelves, but at least they will all be on a shelf!

The Shack is highly wishlisted on BookMooch. You would make someone there very happy by listing it. I got a copy last year but made the decision that, since I really didn't want to read it, to just let it go unread. It was quite a road to Damascus moment for me; the idea that I could let a book go without having read it first. It may be awhile before I get to do that again; most friends and relatives now just give me a bookstore giftcard.

The Shack is highly wishlisted on BookMooch. You would make someone there very happy by listing it. I got a copy last year but made the decision that, since I really didn't want to read it, to just let it go unread. It was quite a road to Damascus moment for me; the idea that I could let a book go without having read it first. It may be awhile before I get to do that again; most friends and relatives now just give me a bookstore giftcard.

>17 tymfos: Terri, if I weren't so moody a reader, I would have challenged myself to more than 26 books! And believe me, if a mood strikes, it takes absolute precedence over any crazy psychosis I have. Notice I said "when it's time to pick a book." That means "when I can't decide which book to read next."

A few years ago, I had surgery and knew I would be off work for a month with plenty of reading time. I asked my (mathematically OCD) son to choose 5 random numbers between 1 & 700. Wherever those numbers fell in my alphabetical TBR listing, those were the books I would read while I was off. It was a really fun experience. I read some books I had forgotten I had, some that I was putting off, some that I was anxious to read and ended up being disappointed by, but overall, it was a good time, and if I ever have another surgery, I'll do the same thing!

>20 RidgewayGirl: I figured it would go quickly on BookMooch. And if Trisha wants to read it, it'll still go there when she's done. I've only let books go unread on rare occasions, and I think "road to Damascus moment" describes it well! I would have done the same to The Shack if there hadn't been such strong pulls in both ways to read it. I wish now I had taken your route and spent my time on something more worthwhile!

MERRY CHRISTMAS (or whatever holiday you celebrate) to all of my old and new friends in this group! I hope you didn't get so many books for Christmas that it negates your Off-The-Shelf Challenge! And I also hope you got all the books you wanted!

And a Happy New Year to you all too!

Cheers!

Bonus book for December!
Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice

I mooched this book in September because my niece invited me to discuss it with her book group. They're fairly informal, and they might be discussing it in January, so that's why I chose it to read now.

I didn't like it at first, because I thought it was kind of dull and ordinary. Then I realized it was supposed to be kind of dull and ordinary, since Jesus was an ordinary child. Her Author Notes were very good too, so I ended up giving it 3.5 stars.

Verdict: I'll probably put it on BookMooch after the discussion.

I'm really curious to see if you do want to give this one away after the discussion. I wasn't super thrilled the first time I read it but after I went back and read it again, it went onto my read it again, and again pile.

I listened to Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt after my husband read it and raved about it. I had never read anything else of Rice's, so I didn't really know what to expect. I quite liked it. In fact, I have the next book, Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana in my TBR stacks for this challenge.

I can't tell you how much I love the fact that you geek out to choose your next read. That's just fabulous.

@tloeffler,

Please don't hate me for suggesting that you add to the TBR pile :) but from the looks of Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, you might like Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. It is irreverent - much, much more so than it looks like Rice's book is - but underneath the irreverence is a lot of solid thought. (Also, it's hilarious.)

I agree about Lamb having more substance (and reverence) than you'd expect at first glance. I even loaned my copy to a pastor and she enjoyed it. Although it can get pretty vulgar, it's only the supporting cast behaving that way.

>29 jfclapp: To tell the truth, I think that Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal was on the TBR list that I lost with my flash drive last year. Thanks for the reminder to put it back on there (I think)! I don't mind irreverence. I couldn't believe in a God without a sense of humor.

>27 lbradf: Lois, I was not aware that there was a sequel. I'd probably like that one too. Sigh.

>28 London_StJ: Luxx, I managed to raise a household of geeks (okay, only 3, but boys, so it always seemed like a household) all by myself. Some of it was bound to rub off. My philosophy of child-rearing? "Kids, be free. Be whoever you are, do whatever you want, just so long as you don't hurt anybody."

#31 - I like the sound of your philosophy; that's how my partner and I are trying to raise our boys as well.

And three boys certainly counts as a household, especially if you were raising them on your own. Mine are under 2, and it's already (fun) chaos!

Hi Everybody...I'm new here and very excited at all these people as nutty about books as I am.
I bought a Kindle last year so that I wouldn't be cluttering my house with books and, guess what, I'm doing both. Books still lying around in heaps and have about 100 on Kindle.

Isn't that funny? Sometimes, there's just nothing like a "real" book!

4. The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan. Linda (Whisper1) sent me this book back in September, and it kept being gently pushed aside for this book & that. I threw it in my purse on the way out the door to the ER with my Dad Saturday, and finished it that night.

Verdict: Wonderful! I will return it to Linda or mooch it if she wants me to. Otherwise, I'd like to keep it.

Is your dad OK?

I was lucky to have received an arc of The Day the Falls Stood Still and really loved it too!

>36 mamzel: He has gall stones, and one of them is blocking his bile duct. But they can't do surgery on him yet because he's on blood-thinners. They keep giving him plasma to "thicken" up his blood, but it's not good enough to do surgery yet, so he's chilling on morphine for the time being. I wish they'd give my Mom some drugs--she's making me nuts! Thanks for asking!

Can they do the ultrasound stone-shattering thing? Seems like that might avoid the surgery problem.

They bit the bullet & did an endoscopic procedure yesterday (successfully) to get rid of the blockage. They still want to take his gall bladder out, but that part isn't as urgent, so they'll do that tomorrow.

5. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome. I mooched this book last year when everyone else was reading it and raving about it. I can't believe I waited so long to read it! But worth the wait. I loved it!
Verdict: Keeping it!

6. So This is Depravity by Russell Baker. This is probably cheating, but it's my thread and I get to make the rules for it. This was taken Off the Shelf a few months ago and was put in my purse to read (for all those times I wish I had a book). Since I finished it this year, I'm including it (although if it wasn't my third OTS book this month, I might not). Hilarious. I loved Russell Baker's newspaper columns, I love his memoirs, heck, I even loved him when he took over Masterpiece Theatre from Alistair Cooke. He has a fabulous way of not taking sides (well, okay, he's usually against whatever side is doing something stupid at the time), and even though this book is really dated (1970-1979 columns), it is also eerily appropriate for now.

ETA: Picked it up at a library book sale in 2008 because, well, I like Russell Baker. Keeping it.

You are on a roll...and I'm laughing about post 15. I need to reread Three Men in a Boat.

So This is Depravity sounds good. I know what you mean about "dated" history beeing "eerily appropriate for now."

I liked your review -- brief and to the point -- and gave it a thumbs up!

Oh, and that's another book on my wishlist of books to read . . .

7. The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton. Another cheater. It's off my shelf, but it wasn't put on my shelf until Christmas, after my deadline. But again, since I've done my obligatory 2 "real" books off the shelf this month, it counts. An absolutely wonderful book. Highly recommended. We're discussing it in the Missouri Readers group starting 2/1, so I don't want to say too much, except READ IT. It was written in 1962, and has been reprinted after Jane Smiley included it in a list of Best Novels Ever or some such thing.

Received as a Christmas gift in 2009. Definitely keeping.

I'm reading The Moonflower Vine for the Missouri group--only allowing myself a chapter or two every few days. Great book and I'm looking forward to discussing it.

I love your system for choosing TBR books. I'm too right-brained to use it myself, but it's fascinating to hear how someone else chooses a book. I made a list of TBR books to read--just 5 or 6 of them--and so far nary a one has made it onto my "finished with that one" shelf. But at least thanks to this group I'm much more aware of my TBR books--I'm thinking now that maybe 50% or so of my reading this year will come from the TBRs on my shelf.

I'm also finding the Wishlist feature of LT to be very useful. Instead of getting a book and putting it on my shelf "to be read later," now I'm just stashing it on the Wishlist. Gonna go add Three Men in a Boat right now.

8. The Collected What If? by Robert Cowley. I have been reading this book, one essay at a time, since last July. Whew. 3 inches off the shelf. But it's been a great book to keep on my desk at work and read at lunch. Unfortunately, it developed in me an avid interest in history, and has trebled the number of books I now want to read. But this one's done!

Verdict: Keeping. I couldn't afford to send it anywhere!

That should definitely give you a feeling of accomplishment!

You can't even imagine! When I was getting close to the end, I was sick with anticipation (especially with the anticipation of pulling another book off the shelf to take its place!). I just wanted to dance!
So Runyon First and Last by Damon Runyon is on my desk now. I used my "random number system" to pick it, and I can't wait to get into it. It was so fun to count the books on the next shelf and use my random number generator to pick a number, then count to that book. Makes me want to read faster so I can do it again!

>49 tloeffler:. Terri, no kidding, Damon Runyon? I have a couple of biogs of him that are on my shelf that I'd forgotten about. My dad used to read him, and I just opened up the first biography, and here's the first paragraph (this is from Broadway Boogie Woogie Damon Runyon and the Making of New York City Culture:

"When I was ten years old, I remember hearing hilarious laughter from my father while he was reading downstairs in the living room. When I went down to ask him what he was reading, he answered, "Damon Runyon." It was a scene that occurred every few years when he would take all of Damon Runyon's books out of the library. My father rarely laughed out loud, and at ninety is no more a person noted for fits of hilarity than he was fifty years ago. When I reread Runyon's stories a generation later, my young sons heard me laughing out loud."

I'm so glad to be reminded of Runyon. I think one of these biogs about him is going to be my next book. After slogging through a biography of Eugene O'Neill, I need somebody who knows how to laugh! The other one is Damon Runyon A Life by Jimmy Breslin.

I'll be eager to hear what you think of his stories.

I found Skipping Christmas at a library sale last week. I have plenty of time to read it this year. I'm looking forward to it.

tloeffler, you're off to a great start.

>50 labwriter:. Becky, I found it at a library sale, and since I'm such a "Guys & Dolls" fan, I picked it up. I am LOVING it. The stories are all told in that great language: "Other dolls call Miss Beatrice Gee a clothes horse because it seems she wears clothes with great skill and furthermore she is crazy about them although her best hold is not wearing them, which she also does with great skill but of course only on the stage." Yes, it's dated, but it is an absolute hoot!

>51 sacredstacks: I found Skipping Christmas to be a very quick read. I didn't care for it, but I was in a very small minority. Hope you enjoy it!

I read Skipping Christmas long before the movie came out. Liked the book but thought the movie spun the tale wrong.

January Roundup
I saw that Carolyn (MusicMom) did this, and thought it was a good idea. I'm not nearly as detailed and organized as she, but....
December 1 2009: 326 TBR on my shelves
January 31 2010: 338 TBR on my shelves.
Wait a minute. That's not how it's supposed to go....
But 7 books have been read, and one has been pulled & put in giveaway unread. And I have read at least 2 from the shelves each month, and that was my goal, so I guess I'll just carry on. Sigh.

I know the feeling - I decided I should put a piece of paper in the books I've mooched/bought this year so they don't get mixed up with this challenge, planning to hold them for next year's challenge. Ten books got labels and I've only finished 5 for this challenge and one I picked up from a bookbox at the diner and read. So I'm behind too and I have more coming from Bookmooch. *sighing twice*

I just started a new pile for books I've gotten since I started. And I'm trying not to read those first, but some of them look interesting, and then there's the library, and of course, Bookmooch, and I keep looking at my son's library on LT and telling him to bring a book home next time he comes...
I knew going in that I wasn't going to make anything like progress, but at least I'm occasionally (twice a month!) picking up a book that has languished for a while.
There are plenty of other things I can beat myself up over besides my book addiction!

I know - I had 2 more show up from BM today - tempting, but no - I shall be strong! And a message saying I had won nothing from ER.

It's been almost a year since I've gotten an ER book. Probably for the best...

And I thought I was the only one left out of the party.

I'm blaming my Father. Really. If he hadn't called me to remind me that my nephew's church was having a book sale today, it would have totally slipped my mind. Fortunately, all the books I bought don't count, because the money is going directly to "the poor." And it wasn't much money anyway. And it was a lot of books...

9. The Surrendered by Chang-rae Lee. This was not on my shelf when I started the challenge, but it's still off the shelf now. A very large book, and I'm ambivalent about whether I liked it or not. I have no real desire to keep it, so it will probably get mooched. Kind of heavy to mail, though. Anyway, whatever comments I had on it are on the book's home page.

#60, ROTFL! It's amazing, the number and variety of excuses that a bibliomaniac can come up with!!!

10. The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander. Off the shelf, but doesn't really count because I didn't get it until after my cutoff. I read it for the Group Read of the Prydain Chronicles in the 75 Challenge group.
It was fine, but I see no need to keep it, and it will be mooched.

I'm having a devil of a time getting to shelf books this month. Too many group reads and library books. Well, I've still got 2 weeks to get the required two done.

I, too, am struggling to get to shelf books. Two Early Reviewer books to finish now (too new to count by the rules I set), 2 group reads, a discussion group book . . .

The easy one I pulled from the shelf yesterday to break my book funk was actually my first shelf book for this month!

I got bogged down by a loooong book on another challenge, but I'm hoping to pick up the pace now. Moving on to one from my Kindle list...

11. Runyon First and Last by Damon Runyon. Loved it! But unfortunately, it forced me to order another Runyon book.

February Roundup
December 1 2009: 326 TBR on my shelves
January 31 2010: 338 TBR on my shelves
February 28. 2019: 353 TBR on my shelves

So I only read one official book off the shelf this month. But I'm ahead from December & January, and there are actually several in process, so we'll see how March goes. I should have a little more time in March. And I'm still going in the wrong direction. Oh, well. (A friend of mine actually had that crocheted on a doily for me and it's still hanging over the stairs where I see it every morning on my way out)

12. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. I pulled this one off the shelf because Richard was doing a group read, and it seemed a good opportunity to, well, pull this one off the shelf. A very interesting book. I'm not completely sure whether or not I liked it. Very, very reminiscent of Ulysses, with the somewhat meandering style. I'm also not sure if I will keep it or not. So I'll keep it until I am sure!

13. The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander came off my shelf, but it went on the shelf after my deadline. Since I knew I was going to read all of these books this year, I really should have made my deadline AFTER I got them. But, I didn't. Still off the shelf, though. And I'll probably mooch it after the discussion.

14. From Away by David Carkeet is another one off the shelf, but one that didn't go on the shelf until after the deadline. Oh, well, it'll cut down on the books I need to read next year...

I have wonderful news for my TBR shelves! I'm scheduled to have a knee replacement in June! How sad is it that I am looking forward to major surgery, because it means 4-6 weeks of reading? Really, we are a sorry lot.

I will be facing the same ordeal some day so I will be following your posts. I have arthritis in my knee. Is that what happened to yours?

I'm sorry you have to have the surgery and be laid up. But I understand the happy anticipation for the reading time you'll have.

Time to read makes everything better! Best wishes for your surgery!

Always helps to look on the bright side. Wishing you all the best with your surgery and a speedy recovery!!

>72 mamzel: Yes, it's arthritis. My sister had both of her knees replaced before she was 50, so I think it's genetic. I've been struggling with it for years, so this is really exciting for me (walking without pain? Heaven!). He's only going to do one of them, and then see if that helps the other. Thanks for all the well wishes!

Best wishes for your surgery, and I hope you read lots of good books while you're recovering!

I also wanted to wish you a happy and speedy recovery! Enjoy reading while your knee heals. Wow, wouldn't that be something if having one knee fixed would fix the other one? I had not heard of that, but then I'm not up on knee replacement surgery. All the best!

I've found that pain in one knee will alter your walking style, and can put too much stress on the "good" knee and cause pain there too. It becomes a vicious circle of pain, limping, more pain, more limping until you've trashed them both.

Good luck with your surgery! Enjoy the rest-up/reading time! Can't wait to hear about what you read!

Yes, good luck. Both my mom and my sister have had the surgery. They have some new versions out now that are supposed to be much quicker healing. Hope everything goes well!

My sister did a lot of reading while working on her recumbent bicycle to get ready for her surgery, and for doing the exercises after the surgery.

15. The Memoirs of A. E. Hotchner: King of the Hill and Looking for Miracles by A. E. Hotchner. Finished 3/31, so counts as a March Read. Off the shelf, but didn't go on the shelf until this year. I'll post my end-of-month summary tomorrow. It's not pretty.

16. Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander. Another one off the shelf, but it still doesn't count since it was added after my deadline.

Original TBR: 326
Current TBR: 354

I'm doomed.

I can sympathize - after reading a couple of March summaries, I thought maybe I should look at how I've been doing so far this year. I've set a goal of 50 to leave my shelves this year. Unfortuantely I've already mooched 46 more books. Talk about doomed! And I keep seeing more books in these threads that sound soooo good. And all the FOL sales are coming up. I really need to see if I can find a place for another bookcase.

At least we know we're in good company!

Maybe I should change my rules. I actually read another book off the shelf, but it was an Early Reviewer that I just got last month, so it doesn't really count. However, it counts for 2011!

17. Dead End Gene Pool by Wendy Burden. Hilarious memoir by Cornelius Vanderbilts great-great-great granddaughter. Read it if you get a chance!

>86 tloeffler:. I'm going to put this on my Wishlist, Terri. I enjoy memoirs and particularly family memoirs. I just read one that's about 6 generations of the Sedgwick family, In My Blood: Six Generations of Madness and Desire in an American Family, but I wouldn't particularly recommend it. The author gets into a "we're so Sedgwicky" schtick that is quite annoying. Good for Wendy Burden if she was able to avoid that and/or the "poor little rich girl" thing. Like honey, who cares?

I hope your knee is healing nicely.

I laughed out loud when you wrote that a book you got last month will count in 2011 as a BOTS. Very creative thinking, and I will definitely borrow that strategy!

I think you'll enjoy it, Becky. She writes in a very down-to-earth manner. Not like she's above it all; she acknowledges that she came from privilege. But she also acknowledges how silly it all is. Compared to some of the stuff you've read, it will be a nice break!

No healing yet, my surgery doesn't even happen until June 2. But I've never been so eager for anything in my life!

You are welcome to copy my strategy! I want to get some older books read, but I don't want to stockpile the newer ones until next year (or the year after, or the year after that,......)

Now for some depressing news: My April Stats.

My original TBR: 326
My current TBR: 370

And guess what happens the end of May? The Friends of the Library Book Sale.

So right now, in order to show any progress at all, I will have to read 44 books off my shelf. Hmmm. I guess I'd better look for some short ones.......

Although, by rights, I should be at 10 BOTS right now, and I am at 9, so if I look at it that way, I'm not doing too badly at all! Yay, Me!

Sorry, Terri, I thought you had your surgery already. Well, at least you know I'm thinking about you. Take care.

Thanks, Becky! I appreciate the good thoughts!

Horrible news. Last night, I was trying to avoid some real work, so I was trolling through my library here on LT. I discovered that there were 44 books in my library that haven't been read, but were not marked as TBR. So, I am changing the original number in # 5 above to reflect those books, since ALL of them were old.

There's a bright side to finding these 44 books - think of the hidden jewels you may have discovered.

Your "progress" (or lack thereof) in whittling down the TBR pile sounds pretty much like my experience. If I look at my goal for TBR shelf books read, I'm golden. If I look at the number of books on the TBR shelves, I'm losing ground! And it's going to get worse; my husband confirmed that we can visit my very, very favorite huge used bookstore while we're on vacation in August . . .

(Quick, I need more bookshelves!)

I've decided to quit doing a monthly update as I already know my TBR is not going to be reduced this year - I've already mooched/bought more than I anticipate reading. My goal is just to get some of the older books to the front and read.

>94 tymfos: - where's this bookstore? Don't hold us in suspense - maybe I'll go on vacation too.

Well, I look at it this way: anything off the shelf is progress. If I hadn't found those books in my library list, one of them would have come up in the queue to read, and I would have been angry that I couldn't delete the TBR (yes, I know, I could have added it, then deleted it right away, but where's the fun in that?). And I have pulled 9 more old books off the shelf than I had at the beginning of the year!

I was optimistic about making a dent during my 6 weeks off in June, but I feel pretty confident that I won't read enough to offset the Library Sale at the end of May....

The best thing about this challenge is that it forces me to scan my bookshelves and actually look at what I have been stacking my shelves with. So far I have read more than twenty books off my shelves and I might not have read that many without this challenge. And the best surprise of all has been that I have found some incredible reads, I have only had to abandon one book so far.

>96 tloeffler: - where are you that there are 6 weeks in June? :) Maybe I could get a few more read too if I could get 6 weeks in June.

Actually this, and the 1010 challenge, have helped me get some books read that have been on the shelves a while. Thinking about it - I'm pretty sure that most of them have landed there since I joined BM in Jan 08. so 2 1/2 years - 500+ books. Sometimes it's so hard to decide what to read next.

Oops--Sorry, that didn't come out quite right. Although that would be awesome, wouldn't it????
I should have said 6 weeks off STARTING in June. I'm really counting on getting a lot of reading done then, although I went to a class yesterday, and all I heard was "You won't feel like reading." I cannot imagine not feeling like reading, so I hope they're just talking about normal people.

I was mostly jealous at being able to read for 6 weeks. Oh my! the luxury!

I cannot imagine not feeling like reading, so I hope they're just talking about normal people.

And, of course, that wouldn't be any of us . . . ;)

18. Pearl of China by Anchee Min. Another one off the shelf that doesn't count. An Early Reviewer that I felt obligated to read before any shelf books. I'm getting antsy to someday soon read a book that counts!

How did you feel about Pearl of China? I read Red Azalea and had to force my way through it. Her writing style irked me.

That's just how I felt about Pearl of China. It felt like she was trying to write like a Chinese person speaking English, and it didn't work for me at all. Then at one point, Pearl went to the United States, and I felt like it became the story of her fictional friend. "Force my way" might be a strong way of putting it, but I did find myself saying "WTH?" more than once!

19. Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener. Woo Hoo! Finally! One off the shelf that counts! This was my "purse book" for the last few months, and when I get down to the last 50 pages or so of the "purse book" I can't stand it any more and I just finish it up. A great book--highly recommended if you've never read it!

20. The High King by Lloyd Alexander. One off the shelf that doesn't count, but still, it's off the shelf!

21. R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton. I actually met my goal of 2 off the shelf this month! Now to catch up with the months I'm behind.....

Well, I went to the Friends of the Library Book Fair yesterday, and added 30+ books to my shelf!

Oh. Wait. I'm supposed to be getting them OFF my shelf.

**slinks away, a little shamefacedly, but not much, because it was for a good cause and only cost me $10**

I'm with you - I went to 2 this weekend and added 38 to my shelves - well not actually - I don't have any shelf space left. And there are 2 more next month that always have good books. And 4 or 5 to go on BM. I have to say that my choices are much more eclectic since BM and LT. Expecially LT - I see so many books in the threads I follow and the ER books that my wishlist grows and grows. And I don't think any of the 38 I got were even on my wishlist.

Anyway - you'll have a good start for this thread next year:)

That's what I like about LT. I am among those of my kind!

22. Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs by Wallace Stegner. An addition too recent to count, but one off the shelves and onto Bookmooch!

Two more off the "too recent" shelf:
23. Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle
24. When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt.

And another two off the "too recent" shelf:
25. When the Mississippi Ran Backwards by Jay Feldman
26. IOU: New Writing on Money edited by Ron Slate. This is a Concord Free Press books, so if anyone would like it, and is willing to make a charitable donation of their choice and send it on when finished, send me a PM and I will send it to the first requestor!

Yahoo! One that counts! And a 500+ pager too!
27. Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie. A fabulous book about the rise and fall of the Russian monarchy!

And a big pat on the back for reading one OFF your shelves. It's hard, isn't it, to pick an older book when we have all these newer, shiny ones calling to us!

I am currently having library withdrawal pains, and I know I am going to have to give in and go get some new books (to me) this week!

28. Children of the Albatross by Anais Nin
29. A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson.

Two off the shelf that don't count. However, in my defense, I have read 71 books so far this year, and 29 of them have been off the shelf in some form or another, so I don't think that's too bad. And my goal was 2 per month of my old books, so at the end of June I should be at 14, and I'm at 12 now, so I'm really not doing too bad.

And if you have never read A Guide to the Birds of East Africa, you should. It is the most delightful book I have ever read.

My dream is to take a trip to Africa someday, so I have dashed over to BM and put it on my wishlist so I don't forget the name.

Sounds like a book that would be right down my alley. I've requested it from the library. They don't have a copy yet, but I bet it's one they decide to buy when they look into it. Thanks for the recommendation!

Two more no-counters:
30. Sabriel by Garth Nix--read for the Group Read in the 75 books challenge.
31. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett. Short, sweet--read it, you'll love it.

The Uncommon Reader was so charming!

I have A Guide to the Birds of East Africa checked out from the library since Richard recommended it - sounds like I really need to get to it!!

Was Sabriel good? I'm not joining in the group read (I'm doing the Proust/ Swann's Way group read and that will be enough for me I think) but I was thinking about reading the trilogy if I had time before school started.

I enjoyed Sabriel, Rebecca, and it would have been a very quick read if I had read it all at once and not followed the group schedule. It might be a good filler for you in between the Proust!
Another no counter off the shelf (Early Reviewer--I had to read it):
32. This Must Be The Place by Kate Racculia. Very good novel. Read it if you get a chance!

33. The Birthday Boys by Beryl Bainbridge. A legitimate off-the-shelf that I chose with my random number method. Hurrah!

Wow. I'm caught up through June!

34. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Excellent story of Angelou's youth. It was a "purse book" that I had to elevate to regular status because I wasn't getting enough chances to read it from my purse!

I love your "purse book" classification. I usually don't carry a book around since I have books in progress at most of the places I might actually have time to read - by my bed, in the living room, in the bathroom (this one has been there for a long time), at work, and I used to have one in the car for when I drove my daughter to a 4-H meeting and waited for her (I read World without End that way).

Well, I thought I had all my bases covered, but the first time I found myself needing one and not having it, the "purse book" began. I try to choose small, episodic books so that if there's a dry period, I don't forget what it was about, but somehow this book ended up in the purse. It had to come out when it started getting really good!

End of the Month Recap:
(I don't know why I do this--it's so demoralizing!)

Original TBR: 370
Current TBR: 455 (!)

I've read 79 total books this year, 34 total off my shelves, 14 TBR that were there when I started this.

Oh well. We'll just pretend that I'm doing this to make the rest of you feel better about your own progress (or lack thereof!).

35. Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's by Frederick Lewis Allen. Another one off the shelf. And a fabulous one at that. Read it if you get the chance!

Sorry, tloeffler, but your figures do make me feel a little better...

But not to worry, just think of the excellent reading material you have right at your fingertips!

It's true. I could be stuck inside for years and never run out of things to read!

I am new and think The Sun Sharer by Edmunson should be on this list due to the controversial and shocking nature. That makes it a big talking point!

Frederick Lewis Allen wrote one about the thirties also. Since Yesterday: The 1930's in America, September 3, 1929 to September 3, 1939. I haven't read it yet, but it's on my radar so to speak.

>131 namdnop: Namdnop, what is it about? There aren't any reviews on it yet to tempt me!

>132 usnmm2: Marty, I think you were the one who read Only Yesterday and persuaded me to take it off my shelf & read it! I'll have to find a copy of Since Yesterday now. Let me know if you find it first if it's as good as the first!

36. Dave Barry's History of the Milennium (So Far) by none other than Dave Barry. Great fun if you're a Barry fan (and I am). I'm doing much better in the second half of the year at getting books off my shelf!

By the way, I have no idea what just happened to my first post where I was keeping track of the OTS books I'd read. All of a sudden, they turned into numbers, and wouldn't allow me to put in the next book. Very Odd. Wonder if I should give it up or start another list way down here?

It looks like it may be a casualty of the way Tim just implemented making touchstones stick - those numbers look like the work numbers, and the double colon is just like his illustration when he announced the change. It's odd that the first two months' lists weren't affected. Not sure how to fix it, though!

Just checked and mine still look ok

*fingers crossed it stays ok

Just checked mine as well and they are fine. I notice when I look at the edit version of my list, I don't have the asteriks that yours do, can you do an edit and eliminate the asteriks or just erase the wrong ones and reenter?

37. The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant by Douglass Wallop. Off the TBR shelf but onto the permanent collection shelf. A wonderful baseball story, from whence came the musical "Damn Yankees."
38. Lirael by Garth Nix. Off the shelf, but it went on too late to count.

39. This is Graceanne's Book by P. L. Whitney. Read for the Missouri Readers August Group Read. Wonderful, though it didn't count because I just got it recently.
40. Bed Riddance: A Posy for the Indisposed by Ogden Nash. A delightful collection of Ogden Nash poems on the subject of illness (on which, being a hypochondriac, he is an expert). Includes "Visitors Laugh at Locksmiths or, Hospital Doors Haven't Got Locks Anyhow" and "What the Well-Read Patient is Talking About or, Look Ma, What I Got!". Some amusing, some hilarious, great fun! And it counts!

41. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King. Another recently acquired one off the shelf.

42. The Proud Tower by Barbara W. Tuchman. A too-new book off the shelf! A good one too.

43. The Thurber Carnival by James Thurber. Hilarious, as always, and it counts for off the shelf!

44. Abhorsen by Garth Nix comes off the shelf, but too new to count.

45. Forever Odd by Dean Koontz. This one comes off the shelf, and also counts as one of my monthly series books!

July Summary:

TBR 12/1/09: 370
TBR 8/1/10: 458

Books Read Since 1/1/10: 92
Books off the shelf since 12/1/09: 45
Books off the shelf since 12/1/09 that were ON the shelf on 12/1/09: 20

So. I have 88 more books on my shelf than I had when I started. Better than 133, I guess...

46. The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard. An early reviewer book that comes off the shelf but dosn't count.

47. Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny. An early reviewer book that didn't even make it onto the shelf!

#147 Ah, if I'd gotten that book as an ER, it probably wouldn't have made it to the shelf, either!

48. The Best American Essays 2005 edited by Susan Orlean. Picked up at a book fair several years ago. Like any collection, there are essays that I loved and some that I skimmed (and I admit, one or two that I read a page of and then moved to the next one).

What is this Daedalus catalog you speak of? Perhaps I should go investigate... Wait, is a 600 + TBR heap too big? Is that a no? I'm hearing you guys say no, so I'm off to investigate!

Congrats on reading 48 from your shelves so far this year - muy muy impresivo!

is a 600 + TBR heap too big?

Sounds perfectly normal to me.

"...is a 600 + TBR heap too big?..."

Sounds like a goal to shoot for to me. ;)

is a 600 + TBR heap too big?

Since my latest book-buying binge, I'm thinking that it had better not be... :)

Too Big? Of course not. I mean, what if there is emergency where you can't leave your house? You wouldn't want to run out of things to read, would you?

Speaking of which, I got another pre-2009, 2-incher off my shelf this week:
49. Peter and the Secret of Rundoon by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Third and final in the Peter and the Starcatchers series, "prequels" to Peter Pan. Not as good as the first two, but still, a great romp!

Another one bites the dust!
50. The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood. A great little book.

>154 tloeffler: That's actually why I never feel guilt about my TBR collection. (I've also never bothered to count it. I have some tagged unread but not all of them.) Many years ago, I broke my leg and had to spend the first full week in bed. I actually ran out of things to read. And vowed to never go through that again. I ended up watching QVC!

Oh, the pain! *shudder*

And the broken leg sounds pretty bad, too!

Horrors!

QVC?!?!
I think I would have started rereading the books I could reach!

50. Flight of the Piasa by Raymond Scott Edge. Off the shelf!!
51. A Very Long Engagement by Sebastien Japrisot. Off the shelf, but added in May, so it doesn't count.

August Summary:

TBR 12/1/09: 370
TBR 9/5/10: 466

Books Read Since 1/1/10: 105
Books off the shelf since 12/1/09: 51
Books off the shelf since 12/1/09 that were ON the shelf on 12/1/09: 24

Good news (if you can call it that): My TBR has only grown by 8 books in the last month.

Yeah, whatever. Only 2 more books to go in this challenge, and I will at least have reached my original goal! At least that's something...

52. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot. Another one that never even made it onto the shelf!

Lovely book; I used to have a recording (vinyl!) of it, which I would love to find on CD.

53. Rose in a Storm by Jon Katz. An early-reviewer book, off the shelf but on too late to count.
54. She Shall Have Murder by Delano Ames. Again, off the shelf, but on too late to count.

Just posting to say hello, and marvel at your reading list this year. Even with the new knee, I find it amazing. Maybe I should start a group for 'one book in 2010'.

ROFL! Now, Judy, you know you've read more than one book. I think that training myself to not sleep until I've read for an hour at night has been the key. Why did it take me so long to realize that I have to make the time for the things I simply WANT to do??? So everything else stops at 10:00 pm (9:00 on a good day), and I just read. Audiobooks in the car help too!
Wow, it's been a while since I've posted here. Let's see what I've done...
55. Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Covered in this challenge & the 75 & Mac's Halloween thread. Excellent book!
56. Mrs. Bridge by Evan Connell. Read for Missouri Readers, but a recent shelf addition.
57. Ghosts of St. Charles by Michael Henry. Another one that never made it onto the shelf before it came off. Local history & ghost stories.

September Recap:

TBR 12/1/09: 370
TBR 10/3/10: 472

Books Read Since 1/1/10: 116
Books off the shelf since 12/1/09: 57
Books off the shelf since 12/1/09 that were ON the shelf on 12/1/09: 25

Yeah, I know, it's not pretty. However, you will note that half the books I've read this year have been books I've owned, and half of those were books that were already on my shelf on 12/1/09, and I am one book away from my original goal (which said NOTHING about not buying any books, just that I'd read 26 oldies off my shelf), so I feel good about myself. I dare you to make me feel bad. I refuse.

Plus, Richard made me go to the Strand bookstore in NYC & buy a bunch of books...so it's not my fault.

ROLF myself at that not pretty picture. Oh well, progress is progress, and not to be scorned. After all, it's not the goal to have NO books on the shelf, is it?

Right you are, Judy. Gotta stay prepared for that worldwide book famine that could happen any day now...

But I did get another one off the shelf.
58. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I don't know what is scarier: the book, or having it on my shelf for so long. I may never sleep again.

ETA: Woo-hoo! I just realized as I updated my ticker that I have hit my goal for the year! Everything from here on out is gravy! I should celebrate by buying some books....

Hurrah! Congratulations, tloeffler!

I should celebrate by buying some books....

LOL! Congratulations!

Go, you!

Be careful with that "celebrate by buying books" thing, though. It's been getting me into trouble. :)

Are you kidding? I'm in trouble with buying books even when I don't say it--might as well use a real excuse when I have one!
Thanks for the congrats, all!

Ha! You know, I like the way you think.

Congratuations Tloeffler, so what are your plans now - are you going to set another goal or wait till next year? I meant your plans after you go book shopping, of course!

Wahoo! Congratulations! Sounds like a great reason to shop for some books, if you ask me. I heard that Worldwide Book Famine may actually happen, so you probably do want to stock up.

Wow! Congrats on reaching your goal! By all means, buy more books!

A Worldwide Book Famine???? Oh, NOOOO!
*runs around in circles*
The sky is falling, the sky is falling!

Thanks, all! I'm not going to set another goal; I'm just going to wait and see how far I can surpass the goal so I can be all proud of myself! And I will start from scratch next year, AFTER Christmas!

Settle down, mamzel. We don't know that it's going to happen for sure, but we must be prepared. Buy more books!

Books make great insulation - I've got my house almost completely lined with them! If the WWBF ever comes, I'm prepared!

Ok, I'll bite. WWBF??

>MerryMary

WorldWide Book Famine!

*head/desk* Of course!

A newer one off the shelf:
59. Different Seasons by Stephen King. Four novellas, not terrifying, but definitely shiver-inducing. Recommended even for non-King fans (such as myself).

my plans are:

1, achieve my goal of 60 books off the shelf before the end of 2010

2. buy as many books as I can between then and Dec 31 so that I'll have the necessary raw materials to.....

3. join this challenge again in 2011,

Sadly, even if I were aiming at and succeeding with 60 books off the shelf this year (my goal is a modest 20% of my reads), I would still be able to join the challenge again for about 5 years without buying any new books. ;-(

On the other hand, I am in good shape for the WWBF!

A very low-key kind of day. I've finished 3 books today!
60. Kahlil Gibran: His Life and World by Jean Gibran and Kahlil Gibran (not the poet but a cousin of his). An interesting book about an interesting man and one of my favorite writers. Off the shelf!

Okay, make it 4.
61. The Postman by David Brin. Another newer one off the shelf. Just getting primed for next years challenge! Very good, btw.

Brin...I was in love with his Uplift Wars series in the 80s, and completely fell under his spell with Earth in the early 90s...then he might as well have vanished. I don't know why. Just sort of...forgot him.

Man! You went on a book-eating binge! You've got to have at least one corner in your house begging for a new stack of books.

Hahahahahaha! *wipes eyes*
Oh, that's a good one! "At least one corner in your house begging for a new stack of books." As soon as an older book is removed from one of the 30 possible shelves, a newer book from the stack on the floor is put in. Unfortunately, the stack on the floor just grows, and grows, thanks to people like Richard running around shouting "You must read this!" "You must read that!" "Buy this book!" "Come to New York and I'll take you to The Strand!" "Brin...I was in love with his Uplift Wars series..."

Ah, that's what friends are for. Making your home look like an overstocked, disorganized used bookstore.

Ah, I was in love with the first trilogy of the Uplift series as well, and Earth, and Kiln People.

So unfair. Once in a while, I can resist one person saying "I was in love with..." but never two.

62. Murder With Puffins by Donna Andrews. Second in the series. Off the shelf, but it doesn't count.
63. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. Excellent story! And an older one off the shelf!

64. The Ghost Belonged to Me by Richard Peck. This was only added in June, so it doesn't really count. At least, not for this year! But a good start to a series. Unfortunately, I don't own the remaining books. Yet.............

I remember love The Ghost Belonged to Me when I was a kid. It was a great story about friendship, or so I thought then.

It still is!

October Recap:

TBR 12/1/09: 370
TBR 11/5/10: 465

Books Read Since 1/1/10: 135
Books off the shelf since 12/1/09: 64
Books off the shelf since 12/1/09 that were ON the shelf on 12/1/09: 28

The good news is: My TBR went down by 7 books this month (since last month), and I've passed my original goal. Unfortunately, there are about 100 more books on my shelf than there were when I started this. Baby steps, I guess!

It's like the "Circle of Life", you keep reading and books keep showing up, round and round it goes - who benefits? You of course, from all those excellent reads!

Yes, it looks like a successful challenge to me too.

That is exactly right! If I ran out of books on my TBR, I couldn't participate in this challenge next year, and I've had such a good time! It would be a shame to miss out.

65. Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. A newer one off the shelf. Unfortunately, it was very good, and there are about 20 books in the series...

Confession Time - I went into a used bookstore today thinking I should stock up so I have plenty of variety for next year's challenge. Fortunately I was with a sensible friend who would have witnessed it. I'll sneak back latter with a bag of books to trade and no witnesses!

I, unfortunately, have no sensible friends! I have one very ultra-sensitive (police state comes to mind) son who is helping me with my goal. I also live with two enablers: hubby who thinks books are the least worrying of my addictions, and another son who thinks Mom should be happy --what a rebel!

Ah, but I hit another bookstore alone today. Er, uh oh.

#203 Unfortunately, it was very good, and there are about 20 books in the series...

I have Death at La Fenice waiting for me on my shelf for next year's challenge ... which is obviously going to lead to more books on my shelf . . .

Sensible friends are way overrated. I have a sensible son too, Lynn (also police-state worthy), and I just pay no attention to him.

Cammykitty, I think you're my kind of person! Of course, I think everyone in this challenge is my kind of person!

Terri, hurry up and buy the rest of them before next year!

LOL Yup, we do all have something in common.

#208 Terri, hurry up and buy the rest of them before next year!

The thought has crossed my mind . . . ;)

66. Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention by Katherine Ellison. An Early Reviewer from last month, so it doesn't count towards the challenge.

>211 tloeffler: AWFUL jacket art!

Maybe, but it kind of matched the "all-over-the-place" mind of the terminally distracted!

67. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman. It didn't count for the challenge, but it was wonderful!

TLo darling, why doesn't it count for the challenge? You could always send it to *me*! I'll care for it like it was my own. *batbat*

I made a rule that "Books Off The Shelf" for the challenge only included books that were on my shelf prior to 12/1/09. That was to get me to read some of the older books I owned. I'm counting to see how many of my own books I'm reading this year, but the real "challenge" is to read books I've had forever instead of only newer ones. It's been great fun finding things I'd forgotten I had!
And Ex Libris didn't go on my shelf until after Christmas last year. Next year, I'm starting January 1, so my Christmas books all count!!!

And Happy Thanksgiving, to you, Richard, and to all! Gobble, gobble!

Happy Thanksgiving, Terri!

Very important to have the Christmas books count!!!

68. The Good Years: From 1900 to the First World War by Walter Lord. Not only counts for the challenge, but it's a good 2-1/2 inches! A very old, very good book. Not a tedious history, but Lord takes one event (sometimes major, sometimes something small that is significant in its own way) from each year, and expands on it. Fascinating!

*SMACK* Hit by a Book Bullet! The Good Years sounds really fascinating, despite it's potential use as a doorstopper. Happy Friday, Terri!

It was an easy read, though, Laura, so don't let the size put you off (like I did)!

I am not going to post a November recap, because I spent all day yesterday in a used book shop, and bought 20+ books.
*hangs head in shame*
But I'm ready for next year! I may even bump up my monthly quota!

booosssssssbooooooooooooo

Recap recap recap!

LOL, 20+ books. Over 20 but under 100?

I know how you feel, I let my TBR shelves slip back over 300 this month. My goal is to get below that in December and I'm already thinking of cheating by not listing my Christmas books until the new year! (Also hanging my head in shame...)

Ladies, no need to be all shameful - we just want to know what books you purchased!

You'll be sorry you asked.

World War One British Poets edited by Candace Ward
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell
The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz
Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
The Teacher’s Funeral by Richard Peck
Lanterns and Lances by James Thurber
Northbridge Rectory by Angela Thirkell
Mister Roberts by Thomas Heggen
The Pleasure of His Company by Samuel Taylor and Cornelia Otis Skinner
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
Did They Really Do It? by Fred Rosen
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
The Virginian by Owen Wister
In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden
Complete Stories by Dorothy Parker
Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
The Edmund Crispin Treasury Volume 3 by Edmund Crispin
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Love Walked In by Marisa de Los Santos
Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
The Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky

I'm not sure but what we were separated at birth, tloeffler. That list mirrors a lot of my interests, favorite authors, personal possessions and wishlist residents.

Isaac's Storm was a particularly good read of this past summer. I hope you enjoy it too.

Wow! The Virginian! Wow. Can't wait to hear what you think of that one.

Merry,
I just read your review about Isaac's Storm and I am adding it to my wish list. I lived in that area (VERY briefly when I was young and experienced Hurricane Carla in 1961 - no where near as bad but bad enough.

I love Marisa de los Santos. Love Walked In and the sequel are both good. I have Sarah's Key on my TBR pile also. Maybe next year.

Sounds like a good list, & just in time for next year's challenge. :) There's a Jane Eyre group, so when you get around to reading it, you can check them out.

>228 MerryMary: Mary, you may be right! I just walked up and down the rows of books and grabbed everything that either piqued my interest, or that I remembered was on my TBR list! I've loved the other Erik Larson books I've read, so I expect to love Isaac's Storm as well!

>229 richardderus: Richard, that book has been on my list for ages and I've never seen it anywhere! Looking forward to it!

>230 mamzel: It would be interesting to hear your take on that book, mamzel, having lived there. It's fun to read books when you recognize real places!

>231 dudes22: I had just read an article about Marisa de los Santos about a week before, so I thought it was ominous that I found that book. And my cousin has been bugging me to read Sarah's Key for months now. (although just because I own it, doesn't mean I'll read it anytime soon!)

>232 cammykitty: I saw that someone was starting a Jane Eyre group. My RL book discussion group is also reading it early next year. Maybe I can get to it in time to hit both of them?

So now I'm all ready for next year. And the year after, and the year after that, and...

69. A Wee Christmas Homicide by Kaitlyn Dunnett. On the shelf too late to count, but it's off now! For good, I think--goin' to Bookmooch.

I used to buy my Mom Xmas murder mysteries all the time. It drove my cousin nuts because she felt it wasn't in the true spirit! LOL. Mom loved them.

70. A Holiday Treasury: A Collection of Joyful Christmas Readings edited by Diana Wenk. A nice little Christmas book
71. Middlemarch by George Eliot. This one took a good 3-4 inches off the shelf! Not enough to make room for my Christmas books, but there it is. I will be well-prepared for this challenge come January 1.

I guess I never did an End of the Year Summary. Probably because I was embarrassed...

December 2009 TBR: 370
Old Books Read: 31
Newer Books Read: 40
Total Books Read: 156

January 1, 2011 TBR: 518

Sigh.

TBR 518?!? Howinahell you keepin' it that LOW?!? Mine is now over 1000!

*sigh*

Well, these are TBR that I actually OWN. I have another list of TBR books I don't own that is probably well over 700 additional.

Richard, only you could make me feel good about 518 TBR. You're a dreamboat.

I live to serve, madam. *bow with flourishes*

Maybe I can share a little of that bliss, having approximately the same owned TBR myself. Well, when the great WWBF comes, we'll be rich!