Stacy's 2015 TBR Challenge List

Excited about my second year with this challenge. A few years ago I collected quite a few (100+) of the Easton Press books, primarily classics. I've read some of them, but would like to read more so this year I'm making them the focus of this challenge. The primary list will be all classics and the alternates will be non-Easton Press books that have been on my shelf since 2013 and earlier.

MAIN LIST

1. Analects by Confucius
2. Rubiyat by Omar Khayyam (November)
3. The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling (July)
4. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (February)
5. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackery
6. Walden by Henry David Thoreau
7. Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss (December)
8. The Birds and The Frogs by Aristophanes (March)
9. Men Without Women by Ernest Hemingway (September)
10. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (May)
11. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (October)
12. Grimm's Brothers Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm (May)

ALTERNATES:

1. The Lace Reader by Brunoia Barry (May)
2. My Dearest Friend by Abigail Adams
3. The Passage by Justin Cronin
4. From Baghdad with Love by Jay Kopelman (January)
5. Oscar Wilde by H. Montgomery Hyde
6. Neuromancer by William Gibson
7. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffembaugh (May)
8. Possession by A.S. Byatt (January)
9. The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse (February)
10. Breaking Point by C.J. Box (January)
11. Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruis Zafon
12. Murder at Mansfield Park by Lynn Shephard (September)

nice list. good luck with it!

Great lists! Brave New World is an all-time favorite of mine (just Googled a reference to it today, as a matter of fact). Of Mice and Men will break your heart.

I've heard of Confucius of course but never thought to look up any of his writings. My grandmother thought the Rubiyat was fantastic. Is The Jungle Book just Mowgli's story, or an anthology of several stories? I only remember Gulliver's Travels vaguely, but I do recall some standout details. Vanity Fair is on my TBR pile, I'm putting it off for now. Walden was a good read for me last year, one of the best I read. Swiss Family Robinson I've heard mixed things about. Mice and Men cemented my respect for Steinbeck. Brave New World goes back to my highschool days, lost me a bit at the time but it was good.

Neuromancer I'm meaning to get to, although I'm told it hasn't aged well. Possession is in my TBR pile. Liked Zafon's Shadow of the Wind but haven't followed up with his others ...

... whew! Lots for me to keep an eye on if you keep us updated with your reading this year. :)

Lots of great classics on your list. I really do like the classics, too.

>4 Cecrow: - Relieved to see so many positive comments about the books I plan to read. It looks like The Jungle Book is an anthology of several stories. It should be interesting to see what the book is actually like as my only vague knowledge of it is sadly related to Disney movies.

Looking forward to finally reading all of these.

>5 billiejean: - Yes, the classics are usually something I enjoy so am excited about seeing which ones I love.

Oh, I overlooked Grimm's Fairy Tales. Once you read those, you might know where the word "grim" got its definition, lol. I worked through those way back when, but only recently read Hans Anderson and Charles Perrault. The original versions are pretty shocking sometimes.

Book #1

First book down for the year! I've had From Baghdad With Love sitting on my shelves for several years. The cute picture of the dog on the cover suckered me into buying the book, but I held off in reading it as I wasn't sure if all would end well. Finally decided that this was the year I would read it and am so very glad I did. It's a quick read that sheds quite a bit of light on the realities of the Iraqi war while telling the sweet tale of Lave, a rescued puppy, and one soldier's quest to send him to the United States.

I think maybe I have that book around here somewhere. I need to put it on next year's list.

Book #2

Another book down from the Alternates list, really I will get to the main list someday - Breaking Point by C.J. Box has been on my shelf since 2013. Not my favorite in the Joe Pickett series but still a solid read.

Nice! I must ... read ... faster! lol

>11 Cecrow:

You and me both. I haven't even started my first TBR Challenge book, so Stacy's way ahead of me. :/

I tend to start each year very enthusiastically with my reading and then taper off later. Never fear, you guys will soon catch up to me.

I have found that I am strongest in the first few months because I build my TBR list based on my current reading passion or goal of the moment. The further into the year it gets, the easier it is to get distracted by shiny, new books! Last year, I went down a rabbit hole for a few months when the Folio Society editions of Religion and the Decline of Magic, and The Epic of Gilgamesh both arrived in the mail. :-)

Sticking with the list can be challenging. And I kept recycling my lists of books that I didn't read, so that made it even more challenging. Luckily, Art and Cecrow convinced me to list new books. So I am also at that beginning of the year fun to read stage this year. (By new books I mean different old books, of course!)

Last year was my first year with the challenge and I did pretty well - there were only three books I think that I didn't get to out of all 24 and two of them are back for this year. We'll see if this is the year they are finally read!

Book #3

I wanted to like Posession more than I did but it just doesn't suit my reading style. There is so much to appreciate with the book such as the highly creative writing (letters, poems, narrative) and a complex story. However, that also meant quite a few words, especially descriptive ones and many pages where nothing happens. Sadly, I do not have the attention span for that, my mind wanders and I end up skimming here and there.

I have Possession on my shelf as well. I guess I am glad that it is not on my list for this year. I do want to read it sometime.

It was enjoyable enough, but I didn't love it like some other people I know did.

I've a few titles like that on TBR (including Middlemarch on my list this year) - ones that other people totally adore. Every time I pick up one of those, I really, really hope I get to join the club. Possibly it creates too-high expectations, lol.

Possession has been on my TBR pile for a while now. But I've hesitated since I've no ear for poetry, and a quick scan tells me that's not a good thing where enjoying this novel is concerned. Still going to tackle it eventually though.

Ironically, the intro to my edition of Middlemarch is written by .... A. S. Byatt

I had to re-read it to come to love it.

>20 Cecrow: - That probably was part of the problem. So many people were raving about it that my expectations were probably just a tad too high. Plus, like you my ear for poetry really isn't good so things that I should have been appreciating went right past me.

I've started reading Grimm's Fairy Tales - my approach is to read one story a day, probably right before bed. Hopefully they aren't too disturbing!

>23 LittleTaiko:, probably not Stephen King disturbing, but you're going to be surprised a few times, I'm sure. I remember the evil step-sisters doing something rather remarkable when they tried the glass slipper, etc.

>23 LittleTaiko: I have really taken a liking to fairy tales as an adult! I especially like Andrew Lang's Rainbow Fairy tale books (named so, because each edition is a color: "Red Fairy Book", "Blue Fairy Book", etc.). They contain many hidden gems from around the world.

Book #4

The Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - Life is not complete unless I read a couple of Wodehouse novels each year. The second book in the Jeeves series, this finds Bertie and Jeeves dealing with the usual sorts of problems. This time the main focus is on Bertie's friend Bingo Little who falls in love at the drop of the hat and somehow gets Bertie tangled up in all sorts of schemes. Bertie's cousins Claude and Eustace also play a key part. With friends and relatives like these who needs enemies? Thankfully Jeeves is always there to set things straight.

>24 Cecrow: - Now, I have to try to not skip ahead to see what they do! I did peak at the table of contents and that story should be coming up soon so I'll try and be patient.

>25 abergsman: - They are sort of fun to read as an adult, especially since the Grimm ones are so twisted. I'll have to look up the Rainbow Fairly tales as that sounds like something I'd enjoy. Thanks for the suggestion!

LittleTaiko, I like the way the books you're crossing out are all on your alternates list!

I wish I'd made an alternatives list for myself. As soon as I tell myself, "ok, you have to read these books NOW!" I immediately start to find ways to avoid them by reading other books.

Yeah, for some reason the top half of my list is giving me fits so I keep choosing books from alternates. It is probably one of those mind games where like you said, as soon as you think you have to read something, you'll read everything else but that. It's a great way to cross some of these other books off my list though.

I have started Grimm's Fairy Tales and hope to finish it sometime in March. I have also started Gulliver's Travels so maybe I will actually get a couple of books crossed off the top!

I read The Inimitable Jeeves last year -- my first by Wodehouse and loved it. I bought my daughter a collection of Wodehouse for her birthday.

By the way, poingu, it is not too late to make an alternates list. Just having 12 to choose from is pretty tough.

Ok! Thank you billiejean. I will get busy on an alternates list and try not to cheat too much by adding books I've already read this year! No,seriously, as soon as I put down and posted "The Waves" I thought darn, I wished I'd put "Mrs. Dalloway" or "The Voyage Out." Same with George Eliot--suddenly wanted to read "Scenes from a Clerical Life" instead of the Eliot books I'd listed, "Daniel Deronda" and "Middlemarch."

Book #5

Finally one book off the original twelve list, too bad this wasn't one that I liked better. Gulliver's Travels was completely different than I expected. My whole notion of the book was about the a man, Gulliver, who ends up in a land of really small people. I did not realize that his travels there were just one of four travels depicted in the book and actually one of the least interesting. My favorite was when he ended up on an island where the king can conjure up ghosts and Gulliver spends quite a bit of time chatting with famous historical figures. My main problem with the book is how dull and repetitive it became. Gulliver ends up in a strange land, learns the language, educates the king in charge, amazes him with knowledge of the outside world, leaves, goes home, and repeats.

Lilliput is definitely what Gulliver is famous for. I like the reversal of the second part, feeling pretty vague now about the other two. Although I do remember the third part making a good case for how awful immortality would be.

PS - you need to strike Wodehouse off your alternate list

Thanks for the reminder about Wodehouse.

I did think the reversal in the second part was an interesting concept. The horses in the last segment was creative but by that point I was getting tired of the same story just in different settings. Though that last segment is where he really points out all the things wrong with humans and indulges in some lawyer bashing.

Book #6

Technically it's two plays but since they were in the same book, I'm only counting it once. Read The Birds and The Frogs, two ancient Greek comedies by Aristophanes. Humor is definitely hard to carry over from one year to the next, much less thousands of years. However, overall I did find these to be somewhat funny, though I'm certain quite a bit went over my head. Fortunately, there were decent introductions to each play explaining what was happening and where some of the humor came from. The Birds resonated a bit more as involved a silly war and power struggles which are still happening today. The Frogs seemed to be poking fun at the gods and other Greek philosophers.

Definitely with older books it helps to have some reference material handy, to place the social setting and times; especially with satire, which is very time-specific. I found that recently with Vicar of Wakefield, and it's only 250 years old.

Just checking in to say that I'm still here and plugging along. Almost finished I think with Grimm's Fairy Tales and have started Analects so hopefully there will be a couple more books checked off the list soon. I've been distracted with other books for other reading challenges and haven't quite gotten to as many here as I had hoped.

Seems like you're doing okay to me. Good job with Grimm, I have trouble focussing on short story collections. I can do a bit and then I need a break.

I think you're doing a great job! Your list actually completely and entirely overlaps with my reading tastes. I have read (or want to read) every book on your two lists!

Finally! Two books that can come off the list.

Book #7 - The Lace Reader by Brunoia Barry. I've had this book for so long now and am happy to finally have read it so I can clear some more shelf space. If you like stories about modern day witches, terribly unreliable narrators, and dysfunctional families then this book is for you. It's hard to talk about the book without giving too much away. I will say that overall the characters were a bit annoying and unlikeable, however the ending helped bump up my opinion of the book.

Book #8 - Grimm's Fairy Tales - I have been working my way through the tales since January and all I can say is that they were basically the same story with minor variations. It became really hard to distinguish one from the other as they seemed to involve good/evil, royalty, step children and step parents, and death.

>40 LittleTaiko:, the Grimm's repetition is almost an argument in favour of Disney-fication. Almost, lol.

Fairy tales in those days were geared to use fear tactics on children to make them behave. Appreciate the parents you've got, step-parents would be worse. Don't get the least bit out of line or you'll get mutilated, beheaded, eaten, etc. Not a lot of rainbows and unicorns.

Book #9 - Long, rainy weekend had me searching for something to read other than the non-fiction book that I'm currently reading. This led me to The Language of Flowers and a chance to finally get this book off my to be read list. I must say that the book worked perfectly for what I needed even if I didn't love it completely. Victoria is a victim/product of the child foster system and has quite a large chip on her shoulder. Not one comfortable communicating with words, she prefers using flowers to tell people what she's really thinking. She also uses the flowers to help others improve their lives and to find what they need. Along the way she starts to confront her past and learn to open up to others.

My wife tried reading it but she didn't get past the first few pages.

>43 Cecrow: - I can completely understand that. The first few chapters were rough, especially since the main character is quite unlikeable. It takes a while to work up any sympathy for her.

Book #10

Finished a reread of Of Mice and Men. It was a book assigned to us in high school to read and I remembered liking it. However, I was surprised at how much I didn't remember about the book. A tight story about two farmhands trying to survive as best they can. Parts of it made me uncomfortable and made me wonder what my teenage self thought while reading it. Overall, still a good, tight story.

>45 LittleTaiko:

Which parts made you uncomfortable, if you don't mind me asking?

I just got to that one a couple of years ago for the first time. Between that and Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck has become an author to read more of. I picked up Tortilla Flat and Cannery Row at a yard sale this weekend, coincidentally.

>46 artturnerjr: - Don't mind you asking at all. It was more of the language and the treatment of the one black character in the book. Very appropriate for it's time, but not something that is comfortable to read about.

>47 Cecrow: - East of Eden is my favorite Steinbeck, but then again, I've only read three of his. Grapes of Wrath is my least favorite. Am interested in reading some of his other stories though.

>48 LittleTaiko:

Yeah, a lot of the casual racism/sexism/homophobia of early- to mid-20th century (and earlier) literature can be hard to take. Disturbing, but an important reminder of how far we've progressed.

Book #11

Loved The Jungle Books - the Mowgli stories were quite fun as were the other ones included such as Rikki Tikki Tavi and Her Majesty's Servants. Enjoyed getting a sense of the rules of the jungle.

I saw the animated version of the Rikki Tikki Tavi story in the seventies and loved it, would love to see it again. The cobras were awesome.

I remember my dad reading The Jungle Books to us when young. I would love to reread them now. Hmmm.

I did a Year-long Steinbeck focused study in high school, and have been a big fan ever since. East of Eden has always been my favorite.

I loved Rikki Tikki Tavi as a kid, but have never been able to get through The Jungle Book. Hmmm....might have to try again!

Book #12 -

Finally finished another book off the list! So happy that I've now managed six from both main and alternate lists. This time I read Men Without Women by Ernest Hemingway which was a nice collection of short stories. He really has a way of telling a story subtly and succinctly. Favorite stories were "An Alpine Idyll," "A Pursuit Race," and "Today is Friday."

I read one of his novels (A Farewell to Arms), but haven't had much exposure to his short fiction which is really where his reputation lies. Glad you liked it.

This must be the first time I looked--more than a quick scan--at your lists. You've read some good stuff so far, and still have goodies left. Good for you!

Neuromancer is terrific (and followed by Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive).

>54 LittleTaiko:

I adore Hemingway's short stories. "Hills Like White Elephants" is probably my favorite from that collection; "Today is Friday" is interesting, too. I've had a copy of The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway: The Finca Vigía Edition for a while now - really need to get to that one soon.

>55 Cecrow: - I haven't read too much by him yet but hope to read more. Typically I'm not a huge short story fan, but his really worked for me.

>56 weird_O: - Thanks! This is the second year that Neuromancer has been on this list so I'm really hoping to finally read it this time. Your comment will help me actually pick it up this time.

>57 artturnerjr: - That one was really good too. The whole time I was reading it I was wondering if they were discussing what I thought they were discussing, turned out I was right. Some of the online analysis helped me appreciate the symbolism.

Book #13

Really didn't think I was going to read Murder at Mansfield Park but I was on a plane with my ebooks and figured why not cross one more book off my list. The author takes Mansfield Park by Jane Austen and completely turns it around. This time Fannie isn't the sweet (yet annoying) character from Austen's novel, instead she is a selfish, cruel heiress who of course gets murdered. Since Fannie was never a favorite of mine in the original, I had no problem with her being bumped off. Overall a nice way to spend some time when stuck on a plane.

>58 LittleTaiko:

That one was really good too. The whole time I was reading it I was wondering if they were discussing what I thought they were discussing, turned out I was right. Some of the online analysis helped me appreciate the symbolism.

I had a fiction writing course in college where the required reading consisted exclusively of Ernest Hemingway stories. Maybe the other students in the class got tired of him after a while, but, man, I never did. I have never read another short story writer whose work holds up under close scrutiny the way his does (well, Poe, maybe, but he's about the only one).

Book #14

So, most of Neuromancer went right over my head I fear. It kept me interested but also hopelessly confused. I still don't know what they meant by "ice." Ah well, can't love everything you read. I'm just happy that I finished it and can cross something else off the list!

>61 LittleTaiko:, I'm looking forward to reading that sometime, as a historical artifact; I hear it hasn't aged all that well. Probably one of those books best read while always keeping in mind when it was published.

>61 LittleTaiko:
>62 Cecrow:

Yeah, I need to get to William Gibson soon - I've never read anything by him (not even a short story!).

Book #15

Really, really enjoyed Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. It was nice to go into a book not really know anything about it. A bit scary how realistic the scenario of this perfect world is and the means taken to achieve it. Some days it does seem like everybody is on a quest to live in their own utopia with nothing to make them unhappy.

Book #16

Once upon a time I signed up for Easton Press's 100 Books of All Time collection which has resulted in several books on my shelf that I really don't know too much about. Having focused on trying to read some of those books for this year's challenge has resulted in me reading some things that I've unexpectedly really enjoyed. The Rubiyat of Omar Khayyam is an example of one of those books. Really not sure what I thought it was going to be, but was pleasantly surprised to discover a collection of thoughtful quatrains. The primary focus seemed to be on living life to the fullest because death eventually comes for everyone. One in particular stuck out to me since Agatha Christie used it as the inspiration for one of her book titles. Love it when book stuff connects.

"The Moving Finger writes, and having writ,
Moves on; nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Not all they Tears wash out a Word of it."

Also thought I recognized this one or some version of it:

"Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough;
A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse - and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness
And Wilderness is Paradise enow."

My grandfather bought that book for my grandmother when they were married. It was still in her sock drawer when she passed, long after he did. Great ruminations on love.

Sadly, I think that's going to do it for me for 2015. I just don't see getting to the remaining books on the list. One of them, Walden will be making an appearance on the 2016 list. Hopefully the others will also find their way into my reading plans for next year but they won't be an official part of this challenge.

Not so sadly, you made a good dent in it! Walden is a good pick for carryover.