Read What You Own Challenge

[ÚlldemoShúl]

I’m going to start a Read What You Own Challenge on the 1st of July to try and reduce down my ridiculously huge TBR both physical and kindle.
My rules for me are-

• No buying any new books after midday on July 1st
• Unsubscribe from the kindle daily deals email
• I am allowed to break it for the Booker Prize longlist when it’s announced, but must check my library for the books first.
• Keep going until August 21st as my first goal. (Maybe until 2026 in total)

These rules are specific to me and anyone who wants to join me is free to make their own set of rules for their challenge. I’m going to log each book I read here to keep me accountable. Anyone else up for it? I know some 50 Bookers are considering it…

Another one butted the dust- short stories How to Gut a Fish by Sheila Armstrong. Just okay.

Just started The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths. I've been avoiding it because the last book of hers I tried, that wasn't a Ruth Galloway, was a disappointment. This is brilliant! I always love a time travel book and the writing and characters are delicious.

Funny @OurMavis that book is very high on my TBR!

Just finished another, an easy read from 2020 - Foxglove Farm by Christie Barlow.

I finished a couple of the ones I had on the go, I've set one aside as not sure if I'm just reading it at the wrong time or if I don't like the book and I haven't added anymore to the pile.....yet!
Started The Wasp Factory yesterday which has been sat on the shelf since 2020! I remember someone recommending it to me, I ordered it pretty much instantly and then ignored it for five years 🙈🙈

@ProfessionalTeaDrinker I found the Wasp Factory disturbing and hard work

Finished an October 2021 purchase - The Corinthian - Georgette Heyer

Finished All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West (library)

I love the Wasp Factory, I'm going to re-read this year.

I also found The Wasp Factory disturbing but thought it was worth it. Mind you it’s about 25 years since I read it I’m sure.

Similar length of time for me too @ÚlldemoShúl

I did just read a section that left me wondering about the person who recommended it to me....or what they saw in me to think I'd enjoy that?! But also the writing is really good so I'm torn between carrying on or not.

What a great idea.
I'll ignore the fact another book is arriving today.

Just finished Anthony Horowitz- A Line to Kill from February 2022. A locked room mystery, enjoyable easy read.

I will ignore the other books I’ve bought in the meantime

I’m not doing too well on the reading front but better than I was. Am making time to read every day which was a habit that had definitely slipped. Seeing this thread in my Threads I’m On acts as a good reminder.

I did order a book this week though (about The West Wing) but have avoided Kindle deals.

Finished The Essex Serpent!

Was it worth it @SheilaFentiman ? It’s one I have soft DNFed before.

It was not 😀

Okay then I’m turning that soft DNFed into a hard DNF and that’s another book off my list too 😁

I like the phrase soft DNF - lots of those on my TBR!

I got rid of most of my physical books but kept a few very old favourites even though I seldom re-read.
An old thread I'm on popped up about Jilly Cooper. I re-read Rivals after the TV series and apparently the next series covers Polo as well. I was very tempted to buy it on kindle but instead I've dusted down the old paperback.
The print's a bit small though!

@OurMavis - choosing font size is definitely one of the biggest advantages of the kindle!

Finished another- I’m on my 6 weeks summer holiday (teacher) so churning through some shorties while I make my way through the long ones more slowly. This one - Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively- was well worth the read.

I have a soft DNF folder on my kindle too 😀

I love this thread - I’ve got around 100 books TBR and growing, so I need to tackle… Problem is, where to start? Anyone got any tips for how to get stuck in? I was thinking about ordering them into rough categories - got a lot of 20th century women writers, social history non-fiction, golden age of crime - and thought about following one read with something similar? Or go for a complete contrast? Am I just overthinking the whole thing?
I’m beginning to see why I have so many TBR!

@Username65 I've got some put aside that are more autumn reads and some that are summery that I want to get to over next few weeks. Other than that I'm just going for it! My daughter loves picking my next read as well which is helpful when I'm at a loss.

I finished The Wasp Factory. Not sure how I felt about it, although the writing was excellent. Now I'm starting Homecoming by Kate Morton which I've not had as long as the last one but it's definitely been there a while!