TBR Challenge

midlifebookcrisis81,

THE RULES, or

Things I Love to Create, Then Break

My TBR Challenge Rules and Goals.

First, I’d like to acknowledge that there may be other or similar TBR Challenges out there, and I’m not trying to poach without credit.  After a precursory search, I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for and I didn’t want it to be too complicated like reading by color or theme or all those other fun challenges out there.  I may incorporate those challenges in along with way, but I just need to get this done.  It doesn’t need to be pretty or fancy or cute, just real, which leads me to the rules. 

The Rules

  • No Rereads, unless it’s been over two years since I first read the book.  Reasoning – This most recent book accumulation began around the beginning of 2020 when whispers of a mysterious illness were in the air.  I ran to my local bookstore, the used bookstores, and the Goodwills to stock up.  I read and purged many books since then, but I noticed a massive slowdown in 2021, hence the stipulation.  I have some books on my shelf that I read almost a decade ago, but I don’t remember much, so reread it now, keep it, or donate it.
  • DNFs can only happen after the 25% point in a book.  Typically, by this point in the book, your main characters are introduced, and the story has direction and you’ve (hopefully) settled into the writing style.   If these things haven’t fallen into place by the 25% mark, I might hold out a bit longer, but I have too many books to read to get too bogged down.  DNF (did not finish) is my friend.
  • Audiobooks are acceptable.  Caveat – I will not just sit in my house and listen.  I use audiobooks when I’m on autopilot performing a task or driving, sitting and driving and listening is fine.  In fact, sitting while driving is encouraged.
  • Book swaps with another shelf are acceptable.  By enlarge, my shelves are organized by genre.  If I find myself too overwhelmed with worldbuilding – I’m looking at you, Fantasy -, too numb to a genre – murder, after murder, after plot twist and reveal, Thriller, or I’m not enjoying a book that I feel I might enjoy later, then it’s OK to put it down and swap it with a book on another shelf.  The point is to have fun and explore my tastes and to keep reading.  What I need to be mindful of is swapping too many books and then future-self hates me for the last shelf she has to read.  I’m such a jerk.  This rule may need to get revisited and amended. Future-Me’s problem.
  • Go into the book unaware.  I will try my hardest not to read ratings or opinions prior to reading the book.  Sometimes, they are just out there ya’ll. However, once I’ve finished or DNFed, I will accumulate some of that data to share and compare.

THE GOALS

Now that I’ve laid out the rules, let’s talk goals and rewards.  Since the goal of this challenge is also to declutter my shelves, I will not buy new books during this challenge EXCEPT as a reward.  

Goal

Read at least 10 books a month

Reward

One new book a month

So, these are the rules going into the challenge.  We’ll see how long they hold up.  I’m pretty sure Future Me is having a good ol’ laugh about this.

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