2020 Keep the Books Off the Shelf Challenge

Challenge Basics:

Name: Keep the Books Off the Shelf Challenge
Hosts: Me!
Starts: January 1, 2020
Ends: December 31, 2020
Goal: 15 books
Eligible Books: Books you acquire in 2020

Why I'm Interested:

I'm not sure if anyone is actually hosting a challenge like this, but it's a challenge I'm giving myself, again. Last year I read a ton off books I acquired in 2019, and rather than feel bad about neglecting my previously owned books, instead I felt like I was accomplishing something with every new book I acquired and read. And I was!

Every year I participate in the Read My Own Books Challenge where I try to read as many books I own as possible. Downside? Those challenges don't count books you acquire during the challenge year, and I think they should! Sure, I know the goal is to read all those books that have been languishing year after year, but what about preventative measures? I think those should be rewarded, too!

(I feel like a health insurance plan)

So, enter my challenge. I'm going to try to make a dent in the books I get in 2020 and therefore whittle down my mountain of books remaining unread on my shelves in 2021.

Some books I'm considering:

As many books from my Acquired 2020 shelf as possible. At the end of the year I'll compare how many books I acquired to how many books I've read from that list to see how well I've done. I'd like to shoot for reading/DNF-ing at least 15 books.

Books Completed:

1. Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne

Books DNF'ed:

1.

Comments

Book Review: The Poison Thread by Laura Purcell

Pages: 351 Publisher: Penguin Released: June 18, 2019 Received: ARC from publisher Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Goodreads Last year I read and enjoyed Laura Purcell's creeping Gothic horror The Silent Companions and, while I didn't love it, I did enjoy it and I've been looking forward to reading more from this author. The Poison Thread follows a similar pattern of alternating perspectives, one character telling their story, another character learning the tragic and horrifying events of the past. The narrative device worked very well here, building tension, intrigue, and mystery. I felt for Ruth, the character telling her story as she waits in prison for her murder trial, and while I didn't love Dorothea (she's a little too naive self-righteous do-gooder for me) I was interested in the events of her life (though, I think, she picked the wrong man). Characters and place felt real and drew me into the story. I felt for them. I felt like I was there (early Victorian E...

Book Review: Mother Knows Best by Serena Valentino

Pages: 400 Released: August 7, 2018 Publisher: Disney Received: Finished copy from publisher Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Goodreads These books are wacky. I've now read three of these Disney Villain origin stories ( Ursula , The Queen from Snow White) and I'm noticing a pretty consistent pattern. Basically: Intriguing plot. I get hooked by these stories. I want to know what happens next. I wouldn't say they're well-plotted stories, since they're actually pretty ridiculous. But I can't help enjoying them . So-so writing. The writing is pretty stilted. The dialogue is sometimes painful. I feel like I'm reading fan fiction. Sympathetic villain. The origin stories turn the villains into saccharine sweet victims of horrible circumstances. It's a little much , but it's also pretty effective. I liked Gothel, I wanted her to win, and my heart broke for her every time her situation got worse and worse. Side characters. There's usually at least one side char...

Book Review: Isabella by Colin Falconer

Pages: 298 Released: April 21, 2015 Publisher: Lake Union Received: Library Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Goodreads Sometimes when I can't decide what to read next I pick a handful of books and do the "first chapter" test where I read the first chapter of each book and see which one hooks me. Isabella won out. I'm not even sure why, though it's possible the super short chapters helped (it's always easier for me to read a book with short chapters). I was also in the mood to read something historical, and I haven't read too many books yet on Edward II and Isabella so I was curious to learn more about them and their era of history. I say I'm not even sure why because objectively this book is...not great. The writing style is strange and somewhat off-putting. It reads like an awkward translation with strange sentences and stilted writing. The characters are also thinly drawn and hard to connect with as a result. Most are barely there and interchangeable and ...

Boxonow

Search This Blog