I really enjoyed the structure that the 2015 TBR Pile Challenge gave me. Even though it’s not an official event this year, Holly and Amanda @ Gun in Act One asked if I wanted to join them in a little unofficial challenge and I can’t ever say no to them. (You can check out their lists here)
Same rules apply: 12 books, 2 alternates, all have to have been published in or before 2014. The challenge runs from January 1-December 31st 2016 and each book read must be reviewed to count.
After careful consideration, here’s my 2016 challenge list:
11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011)The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton (1910)The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez (2014)Matriarch: Queen Mary and the House of Windsor by Anne Edwards (1984)The Mathematician’s Shiva by Stuart Rojstaczer (2014)Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia (2014)- My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier (1951)
The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas (2008)- The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (1939)
In Triumph’s Wake: Royal Mothers, Tragic Daughters and the Price They Paid for Glory by Julia P. Gelardi (2008)Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie (2006)I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes (2013)
Alternates:
I like this challenge because, while there is structure to it and some pressure, they are also books that I’ve already told myself I want to read. 11/22/63 would be the first Stephen King I ever read and I’m putting another Steinbeck on the list this year because I LOVED East of Eden so much this year. I’m keen for more Daphne du Maurier and I need to read the final New York novel from Edith Wharton.
The difference this year is that I only own 3 of the titles on my list, flying right in the face of the #ReadYourOwnDamnBooks movement over at Estella’s Revenge. Last year I already had 6 of them in my possession. But it’s nothing a trip to the library (or the bookstore in extreme cases) won’t fix!
I’m excited to get started on this challenge again! Thanks Holly and Amanda for including me! Are you doing a reading challenge this year?
The Slap is great! and the tv show based on it is awesome too, it’s on Netflix….
Oh excellent. I love when I can continue a book binge with related programming.
I’m so excited for you to read 11/22/63….it’s one of my all-time faves and my favorite Stephen King by far…although pretty different from his other books.
Excellent! I’m happy for the endorsement. This one isn’t scary right? That’s the only reason I can stomach reading it!
Great list, Eva!
I also loved 11/22/63 – and it isn’t scary. And The Grapes of Wrath – only scary how depressing it is.
Bellweather Rhapsody is one I’ve been wanting to read for a while (I don’t own it, though). The problem with trying to stick with reading books that I own myself, is that I keep thinking that if I go out and buy it then I’ll own it and it will count. I don’t think that’s the way it’s supposed to work. 🙂
I’m not sure that you have the concept right either…
I was looking at a synopsis of the Grapes of Wrath before I added it to the list and yeah, I think that one’s going to hurt.
It’s so good, though – really!
Good luck! It’s a great list of books. I’ve only read the Edith Wharton, which I liked, but then I love her way of writing. Hope all the others are as good! 🙂 Happy New Year!
I loved The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth made me cry. I’m excited to read The Custom of the Country. There’s just something about her books – she was so ahead of her time!
Happy new year!
I can’t wait to hear what you think of The Custom of the Country. Definitely one of my favourite novels. Happy New Year!
The novels of Edith Wharton that I’ve read, I’ve LOVED so I’m excited to get to this one. The House of Mirth made me cry so hard. And I need to read more classics in 2016 anyway! Happy New Year to you!
Good on you for carrying on with the TBR Pile Challenge even though RBR can’t host it anymore. I’m looking forward to seeing what you think of Grapes of Wrath.
Thanks! Sad it’s not official but I’ll be waving the flag for the challenge here with Holly and Amanda! I’m soooo looking forward to reading more John Steinbeck!
11/22/63 yes, yes, yes…make that one happen girl! Grapes of Wrath was on my list two years and didn’t get read somehow. But I know I love Steinbeck so I’m not sure what happened. Well last year, Jamie Fraser happened.
Jamie Fraser is the best excuse for everything. I’ll need to read the 4th one at least this year!
11/22/63 advice duly noted. Probably earlier rather than later because it’s quite long.
Looks like a great list. Some of my favs are on it and others I want to read too. I’ll be doing more reading of my own damn books as well as more backlist reading this year. At least that’s the plan right now.
I keep telling myself that I really don’t have that many of my own books unread but maybe that’s because I don’t want to find out?
Glad to hear some of your favourites are on this list – I’m looking forward to finally crossing them off mine!
ok this “In Triumph’s Wake: Royal Mothers, Tragic Daughters and the Price They Paid for Glory by Julia P. Gelardi” is a book I have to find! You have a few on your list that I want to drop everything and read now! I really want to read 11/22/63 and I am Pilgrim specifically. The Book of Unknown Americans is one I’ve been thinking about buying – I heard the author talk and do a reading, it sounds excellent.
I would recommend ordering it online – it’s impossible to find anywhere. I finally asked for it for Christmas and laid the burden of finding it on my in-laws ;).
Let’s all just take another break for reading.
Pingback: A Non-Fiction Binge | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Pile Challenge: The Custom of the Country | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: TBR Pile Challenge: The Book of Unknown Americans | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Challenge Pile Fail: The Grapes of Wrath | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Pile Challenge: The Mathematician’s Shiva | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Pile Challenge: The Slap | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Pile Challenge: In Triumph’s Wake | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Pile Challenge: The Little Book | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Pile Challenge: Half of a Yellow Sun | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Pile Challenge: Thunderstruck | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Pile Challenge: Bellweather Rhapsody | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Pile Challenge: Matriarch | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Pile Challenge: 11/22/63 | The Paperback Princess
Pingback: 2016 TBR Pile Challenge: Finishing on an UGH | The Paperback Princess