I don't want to jinx anything, but when I took a look recently at two book-related projects I've been working on, I was pleasantly surprised to see some real progress.
First, my TBR number has shrunk to 237. That is the lowest it has been since I started tracking it back in 2008. Considering I started this year at 305, I am pretty happy with that number. I'd like to get it down to 200 by the end of the year, and then under 100 in 2016. (My ultimate goal is around 25.) I just need to stick to my "one in, one out" rule for unread books. I've also been focusing on the oldest books in the stacks. I'm currently looking at those I've had unread since 2002. Teresa of Shelf Love just wrote about her TBR pile, and she mentioned that she has a 5-year expiration date for unread books. I'm tempted to try that sometimes, a clean sweep of the old books, but there are still some I want to read - including a lot of Anthony Trollope. Next up from the 2002 section: his Orley Farm.
Second, I have finally hit the half-way mark in my "Mid-Century of Books." This is a project to read one book from each year between 1850 and 1949. I knew I'd never been able to complete this in a year, as others have done. I'm now in my second year, and it could well take me another two to finish. Jane from Beyond Eden Rock, who started the "Mid-Century" project, has made hers more challenging by limiting herself to one book per each author. I on the other hand have included multiple books by Anthony Trollope on my list, as well as Dorothy Canfield Fisher, E.O. Somerville and Martin Ross. I need to write something about (re)reading The Last Chronicle of Barset, and then I can cross 1867 off the list as well - and Orley Farm will take care of 1862. I was thinking the other day that it would be interesting to read through the years in order, rather than randomly as I have done, but I'm not sure that would have been practical, particularly given how many years are still blanks on my list. I need to start looking for books from the 1850s, to start with.
Speaking of book-related projects, James of James Reads Books has just announced the final round of his TBR Dare - a Triple Dog Dare. This is a dare to read only from your TBR shelves for the first three months of the new year. Last year, my fourth time taking the Dare, I gave up half-way through - not to read new books, but because of an irresistible temptation to re-read (Dorothy Dunnett in particular). Still, I managed to clear quite a few books off the TBR shelves. So I am signing on again, but this time with a goal: three months or 35 books, whichever comes first. I'm also going to claim my usual exemptions, one for Lois Bujold's latest Vorkosigan novel, and one in case Deborah Crombie publishes her new book in those months. I think the last Elizabeth Peters book is scheduled for posthumous publication in April, but just in case I'm putting that on the exemption list as well. I'm glad that James is hosting this again - hopefully it won't really be the last round.
I introduced my son to the Vorkosigan books this year and now he is hooked. I just found one he hadn't read at a library book sale for a dollar. And I do enjoy Elizabeth Peters, especially some of her older books. Your mid-century of books project sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I think I will pre-order the new book, to make sure I get it on time :) I am still hoping that she will write more about the Chalion world. I did read the novella (Penric's Demon) that she released this year - it felt like part of a larger story.
DeleteHow exciting that you've made progress on your projects! I'm still doing the Century of Books project (on my 2nd year) and have only completed about 20%. I just haven't read as many classics as I wanted to this year. I would love to do the TBR Dare, but I would have to make some exceptions too - there are some books coming out in January that I already have holds on. Was the Deborah Crombie book postponed?
ReplyDeleteAnbolyn, anything on your library list by midnight on Dec.31st is covered, by James's rules - in fact, people have been known to load up their library lists on New Year's Eve :)
DeleteI'm glad to know I'm not the only one moving slowly with my COB!
I didn't realise there was one last Elizabeth Peters to come -- bittersweet.
ReplyDeleteIt's apparently another "gap" book, vicki - set if I remember correctly during the Ramses-Netfret trouble. It will definitely be bittersweet.
DeleteThe TBR Dare is always fun, but I only joined for January last year because I love the Florida library so much. This year I may take a small pile of books with me, but try to concentrate the 'daily deals' I keep adding to my kindle. Don't want to miss it because it's the last one :(
ReplyDeleteDoing the Century of Books in order could be really interesting... but that would make it a lot harder!
I thought about only joining for a month, or taking it month by month. I know I *can* do it for a month - especially the first month. It gets progressively less fun toward the end.
DeleteI remember how good your Florida library is! And I can see not wanting to carry a lot of books down there with you.
Good luck with the new Dare. I'm not planning to take part, though I probably should as my TBR is out of control! You've reminded me that I really want to try reading the Vorkosigan books soon. The more I hear about them the more I think I might enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be an overlap between Dunnett and Bujold readers - or maybe that's just because I'm in email discussion groups of Dunnett and Bujold readers :) You might also enjoy her alternate-universe historical books (the Chalion series).
DeleteCongrats on all your bookish progress! You've made a big dent in your TBR shelf. I'm impressed. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes, they all fit on bookshelves now - though along the tops of some :) But that won't last. I'll be starting a stack of the 2016 TBR books soon, and I don't know where those will go.
DeleteThat's the eternal problem isn't it? Where to put the new books. :)
DeleteEspecially when there is no more room for new bookshelves. Though I suppose I could buy *taller* ones :)
DeleteThat is fabulous progress on your TBR and I wish I could do as well. The dare is a possibility, though I fell off after two months last year, but it depends on when my library's period of being 'out of business' while it moves happens. It's been put back to early January, and we've been promised extra loans and longer loan periods when it happens, and that's something I may not be able to resist.
ReplyDeleteYou lasted longer than I did with the Dare! I do miss the library so much in those months, it's a regular part of my Saturdays.But I'm not checking out as many books now as it is, with trying to focus on the TBRs.
DeleteCongratulations on reading from the pile! Your numbers are great and the one-in-one out rule is brilliant. I recently did a bit of a purge myself, taking to the library donation table about 20 books I know I will never actually read despite having acquired them.
ReplyDeleteI like the notion of Mid-Century of books project--I think it helps to think about when a particular book was published, the context in which it was written can make a difference in how I view it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to you too :) I am so looking forward to the long weekend.
DeleteThe one in/out rule has really made the difference, I think. I have been taking books to the library sale, and I feel like the librarians are starting to wonder a bit about me. I was thinking that this weekend I might take the latest batch to a used-book store - and then try not to buy anything...
My husband and I do the same in buying one book and giving one away and we have many in our TBR stacks and shelves. I just read Orley Farm by Trollope and loved it and am reading The Bertrams by him now. So far I like VERY MUCH each book of his that I read.
ReplyDeleteI have The Bertrams on the TBR stacks as well - lots of Trollope there still - so I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed both of them. The only book of his I really have not liked is Castle Richmond.
DeleteI wish I'd tried the one in/out rule years ago!
Oh wow! I'm not sure I could take that Triple Dog Dare, but what a great way to get rid of some in the TBR pile. I'll have to think on it. :)
ReplyDeleteYou could sign up for just one month, Lori :) I thought about that, because I tend to lose steam in February. And the rules are very adaptable!
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