January Checkpoint #TBR2018RBR

Posted on January 15, 2018 by

56 Comments

Hello, TBR Pile Challengers! 

Yahoo! It’s time for our very first Checkpoint (with mini-challenge #1 — see below). We have 100+ participants this year, which is pretty awesome considering the challenge was on hiatus for two years. I’m inspired by all of your interest and commitment – reading is awesome, isn’t it?

Question of the Month

Which book on your 2018 list has been on your shelf the longest? (Best guess is fine!) The one I’ve owned the longest is The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle, and I’m excited to say that it was the first book I read and reviewed for this year’s challenge! 

My Progress: 2 of 12 Completed / 1 of 12 Reviewed

So far, I’ve read 2 of my 12 required books. I’m feeling pretty great about that because the new semester starts tomorrow and I never have a whole lot of time for pleasure reading while school is in session. I plan (really, I do!) to read all 14 of the books on my list this year, the main 12 plus my 2 alternates, so getting a jump-start on this list before spring semester began was important. Books read:

How are you doing?

index

Below, you’re going to find the infamous Mr. Linky widget. If you read and review any challenge books this month, please link-up on the widget below. This Mr. Linky will be re-posted every month so that we can compile a large list of all that we’re reading and reviewing together this year. Each review that is linked-up on this widget throughout the year may also earn you entries into future related giveaways, so don’t forget to keep this updated!

MINI-CHALLENGE #1

As I mentioned in the Announcement post, there are four mini-challenges planned for this year. Our first checkpoint also brings with it the first mini-challenge!

Here’s the plan: Visit this link to see the list of linked-up participants. Travel around and leave a comment (or two, or five) with some encouragement for this new year and new challenge. Then, when you’re done, come on back to this post and comment with a link to the blog where you left your encouragement.

Everyone who spreads a little cheer and positivity on another challenger’s post(s) will be entered to win a book of choice, up to $15 USD, from The Book Depository! Comments need to be posted and linked-up here by the end of January and the winner, drawn randomly from the collection of comments, will be announced in the February checkpoint post. Only those who registered for the 2018 TBR Pile Challenge by January 15th are eligible to participate in these challenges and/or to win any of the TBR Pile prizes. 

LINK UP YOUR REVIEWS 

Category: 2018 TBR Pile Challenge

56 Comments on “January Checkpoint #TBR2018RBR”

  1. alas, the only thing I have managed to do so far with the challenge is to DNF one!! It was in audio format, and I just couldn’t stand the narrator (The Miniaturist).
    The book that has been longest on my shelves is La vie mode d’emploi, by Georges Pérec, I think.

    I went to cheer here: https://wildmoobooks.com/2017/12/17/2018-tbr-challenge-tbr2018rbr/ and here https://covertocoverlit.com/2018/01/02/tbr-pile-challenge-2018/
    Thanks for the giveaway

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  2. I’ve managed two off my list (added links to my reviews in Mr Linky) and I’m part way through a third so this challenge is definitely keeping me focussed. I’m not sure which is the book that’s been waiting longest. It’s probably The Cleaner of Chartres that I won in a Goodreads giveaway quite a few years ago now.

    I visited
    https://readingbetweenthepagesblog.wordpress.com/2017/12/15/the-official-2018-tbr-pile-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-2198 to offer encouragement. Such a great idea.

    Well done for getting so many participants this year.

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    • Wow, great job! I’m trying to do 2 of mine each month so that I get all 14 done… but I already want to start my third this month. Hmmm.

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  3. Unfortunately I haven’t read a single book yet this year, or at least not all the way through. I started reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and couldn’t get on with it at all, which was a bit disappointing. I think the book that’s been on my TBR longest from the pile is probably The Silmarillion, which I first tried to read when I was about 15. Really, really hoping to finally get to it this year.

    I spread some cheer here https://iwouldratherbereadingblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/15/2018-tbr-pile-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-618 and here https://afondnessforreading.com/2018/01/02/my-tbr-pile/#comment-9342.

    This is a really nice mini-challenge – I’ve discovered lots of bloggers I hadn’t heard of before! I would have commented more but alas I still can’t work out how to comment on blogspot blogs. Thanks for prompting me to find some new bloggers! 🙂

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    • I haven’t read that one yet but it has been on my list forever. I’m glad you like the challenge! Book blogging is all about community, to me. (I also have a hard time commenting on Blogspot)

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    • You’ll need to create a blog or use something like Goodreads.com. Why not take a look at the links on the Mister Linky sign-ups to see what other people are doing?

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  8. I haven’t read ANY from my list yet but I plan to start reading some next week! As for my oldest books, I have three Neil Gaiman story collections I need to get to this year – I think I first entered them in Goodreads in 2009 so they’re getting pretty old!

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  9. So far I haven’t finished any, but I think I’ve started and am “currently reading” three of them: Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1907-1908; Blue Fairy Book; and Orley Farm. I hope to finish at least one of them by the end of the month.

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  10. I’ve finished one, called Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius, who I think had what we’d call now “locked-in syndrome.” It’s not named in the book – at the time of his diagnosis the doctors couldn’t tell his parents what he had. And he was “awake” and cognizant years for years but didn’t have a way to let anyone know, until one alert caregiver thought she saw more responsiveness in his eyes than anyone thought and advocated for him to be tested. To go through all he did and still be sane and have a good attitude is amazing.

    I’m also about 1/3 into my next book, so I am pretty well on track for now. The one that’s been on my shelf the longest is probably Going Like Sixty by Richard Armour. I discovered and loved his poetry several years ago and bought some used books by him, but haven’t gotten to them.

    I commented on https://inthebookcase.blogspot.com/2017/12/2018-reading-challenge-sign-ups-part-ii.html?showComment=1516049764481#c5164018560654307961 and https://blbooks.blogspot.com/2017/11/2018-reading-challenge-tbr-pile.html (although it’s not showing up on the latter yet).

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    • Oh, gosh, that’s terrifying! I remember being a kid and watching an episode of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” where this was the premise, and it creeped me out entirely. 25 years later, I still think about it!

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  11. I’ve read three and am on a fourth. I have been staring at Midaq Alley since at least 2011, so that one probably wins. I just finished it a couple days ago but haven’t written the review yet.

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  13. I’ve nearly finished my 2nd book thanks to a camping trip on the weekend. The Refugees by A. Conan Doyle is one of the books that’s been on my TBR list the longest.

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  17. I have finished my first book for this challenge, in the middle of the second one 🙂

    My oldest book is Code Name Verity which I (GR) shelved on October 2015. And the paperback has been on my shelf for more than a whole year (i know i’m bad -*-). It’s time to tackle it this year. Yeah for this challenge 🙂

    I commented here:
    https://flyingpaperbacks.wordpress.com/2017/12/09/the-official-2018-tbr-pile-challenge-sign-up-post/comment-page-1/#comment-465

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  18. I’ve only finished two books so far this year, but the first one was from my TBR Pile Challenge: https://karensbooksandchocolate.blogspot.de/2018/01/christopher-and-columbus-by-elizabeth.html

    However, the book on my challenge list I’ve owned the longest is Lucy Gayheart by Willa Cather. I should have chosen it first because it’s also one of the shortest.

    I’ve also left some comments on the following participants:
    https://mybookstrings.com/2018/01/03/tbr-pile-challenge-2018/comment-page-1/#comment-8149
    http://bronasbooks.blogspot.de/2018/01/mount-tbr-personal-challenge.html
    http://onbookes.blogspot.de/2017/12/2018-challenges.html
    https://iwouldratherbereadingblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/15/2018-tbr-pile-challenge/

    Thanks for encouraging all of us to read more off our TBR Piles! It really helps keep me motivated.

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  20. I think the book that’s been on my list the longest is Creed or Chaos? by Dorothy Sayers. When I first put it on the list, it was $80 on Amazon (for a paperback of less than 170 pages!) because it was out of print, but I finally got a copy last year for a decent price.

    So far I’ve finished one book for this challenge – A Grief Observed.

    I left comments here:
    https://randombooknotes.wordpress.com/2017/11/08/2018-tbr-pile-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-12
    http://www.thistangledskein.com/?p=2066#comment-129423

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  21. I think the book from my list that’s been on my TBR the longest is Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville. Coincidentally, it’s the first one that I plan to read this year.

    I haven’t touched my TBR Challenge Reads yet, but that was by design. I hadn’t planned to get to any of them until February, when I’m reading Perdido. So no progress thus far, but that’s okay.

    Comments: https://louloureads.wordpress.com/2017/11/13/2018-tbr-pile-challenge & https://iwouldratherbereadingblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/15/2018-tbr-pile-challenge & https://afondnessforreading.com/2018/01/02/my-tbr-pile

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  22. I’m only just getting into my first TBR book, Countdown City by Ben H. Winters. I was thinking that with other obligations I’d need a shorter book this month, but instead I’m ahead of where I’ve “scheduled.”

    According to Goodreads, the book that’s been on my TBR the longest is Eyeing the Flash by Peter Fenton (2013, it’s been that long?!), but a little sleuthing revealed that I’d downloaded Kameron Hurley’s God’s War back in Nov. of 2012.

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  24. Challenge is going well for me so far. I am really enjoying Moby Dick and I am about a quarter of the way through it. I have received several positive comments on the blog and on instagram about reading Their Eyes Were Watching God. I’ll plan to read that one in February.
    I left comments on operationreadbible.blogspot.com – ofbooksandbibles.wordpress.com and barbarah.wordpress.com (Stray Thoughts)

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  25. You’re doing great! Unfortunately I didn’t manage to read any of the book on my list yet, but I’m determined to read them all by the end of this year! It’s just that in January I don’t have a lot of time to sit down and enjoy a good book, but I’m going to do better in the next months!

    The book that’s been on my TBR for the longest is probably the first book in the Spy Girl series by Ally Carter, but I hope it won’t stay there much longer!

    I left comments here:
    https://iwouldratherbereadingblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/15/2018-tbr-pile-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-626
    https://libriamicimiei.blogspot.it/2018/01/2018-tbr-pile-challenge.html?showComment=1516227036269#c2023005917908826984

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  26. I just linked up “Rebecca” which was AMAZING by the way (though I’m sure you already know that). If it is the only one out of my pile that I get to read this year, I’ll be happy.

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    • Yes, I was so pleasantly surprised by Rebecca and kept kicking myself that I had not read it sooner because I thought it was going to be a dopey romance.

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  27. I remember that my copy of I dodici was in my old house, and now it’s the third year that I live alone, so I suppose I own this book from… 4/5 years.
    I finished 1 book (Poison Study) but I need to post my review, and currently reading my second book, A Spark Unseen.
    I commented here: https://theliterarysisters.wordpress.com/the-official-2018-tbr-pile-challenge-akylina/
    and here: https://libriamicimiei.blogspot.it/2018/01/2018-tbr-pile-challenge.html?showComment=1516291993415#c3056612505293683835

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  28. Well, I haven’t finished any of my TBR books quite yet. The first is still in progress!

    As for your question, I believe that the TBR book that’s been on my shelf the longest would have to be Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. It’s been a long time coming to read this classic…

    Here are 3 blogs I commented on for the Mini-Challenge:

    https://theliterarysisters.wordpress.com/the-official-2018-tbr-pile-challenge-akylina/

    https://readinginwinter.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/challenge-2018-tbr-pile-challenge/

    http://meandmybookshelf.blogspot.in/2017/12/the-official-2018-tbr-pile-challenge.html

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  30. In my attempts to get an early start, I’m pleased to report that I’ve finished two of my books:

    1. ‘If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler’ by Italo Calvino (review posted)
    2. ‘Carrie’ by Stephen King (review in the next week)

    I shared the love to these fellow readers:

    Sarah Reads Too Much
    https://sarahreadstoomuchblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/11/joining-the-official-2018-tbr-pile-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-4574

    LouLouReads
    https://louloureads.wordpress.com/2017/11/13/2018-tbr-pile-challenge/

    Books and Chocolate
    https://karensbooksandchocolate.blogspot.de/2017/11/tbr-pile-challenge-2018.html

    Just Reading a Book
    https://justreadingabook.wordpress.com/2018-tbr-pile-challenge/

    WildmooBooks
    https://wildmoobooks.com/2017/12/17/2018-tbr-challenge-tbr2018rbr/

    Good luck to everyone else on this challenge! Here’s a link to my review of Calvino:

    https://iwouldratherbereadingblog.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/3-if-on-a-winters-night-a-traveler-by-italo-calvino/

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    • I have been wanting to read that Calvino for so long. Should have put it on my list for this year! Darn.

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      • Well now you have to put it on your list for next year! That was my first time reading Calvino. I definitely want to read some more from him.

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      • I realized I forgot to answer this month’s question! The book that’s been on my shelves the longest would have to be ‘Carrie’ by Stephen King. My copy is fairly old as well as beat up. I’m really pleased that I can finally cross that one off the list!

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  31. The book that’s been longest on my shelf is Ishmael’s Oranges by Claire Hajaj which I bought because of the beautiful title and cover art. I still haven’t read it though as my first read was Police at the Funeral – a 1931 detective story, review to be posted soon.
    I’ve shared the love (as Joel says!) with:
    https://iwouldratherbereadingblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/15/2018-tbr-pile-challenge/
    https://booksbeyondmeasure.wordpress.com/2018/01/10/2018-tbr-pile-challenge/
    https://alifeinlistform.wordpress.com/2018/01/05/the-2018-tbr-pile-challenge/

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  33. Darn! I managed to forget and miss the deadline! Hope to join next year if you have it again, and good luck to all participants!

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  36. My oldest book on my TBR is the first e-book I ever got in 2013 (it was free on Amazon one day). I didn’t have a Kindle yet and I didn’t know how to read it on my computer. My how far I have come in 5 years. Sweet Water by Christina Baker Kline WILL be read on my Kindle in 2018.

    I haven’t finished any on my TBR list yet this year but I am starting one later this week. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalainithi. I hope I have more of the challenge completed by the February Checkpoint

    I commented at https://ajreader.blogspot.com/2018/01/2018-TBR-Challenge.html

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  37. Pingback: January Checkpoint: 2018 TBR Pile Challenge | Too Fond

  38. Don’t know if anyone else is having a slow start this year like I am, but I spread some encouragement around nonetheless! I commented at Sarah Reads Too Much and Books and Chocolate.

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  39. I’m currently reading Orley Farm, Tender Victory, and the Blue Fairy Book. It will be interesting to see which one I’ll finish first for February!

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  40. Pingback: 2018 End of Year Book Survey | Roof Beam Reader

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