What is the TBR Challenge? Simply put, it's where readers pick up a long neglected book from their TBR pile, read it, and comment on that read on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. The idea is to read those long neglected books that you just had to get your hands on at the time, but have been languishing in your pile, all lost and forgotten.
Commentary on your chosen TBR read can happen anywhere online (your blog, Facebook, GoodReads, Twitter, a message board etc.) just provide me with a link when you sign-up so interested readers can follow all the challengers!
Why do I make you do "homework?" Honestly? Because it's fun. Over the years many people have commented how much they enjoy following along with the TBR Challenge participants to discover "long lost gems" and maybe get a different perspective on a book they read years ago. Plus is the one day every month where you are guaranteed to get some good book chatter.
This is a voluntary challenge and I want it to be fun. Which means if you skip a month (or, uh, several), I'm not going to publicly shame you. Hey, life happens. Even to the best of us. Also, I am keeping up with the tradition of providing monthly themes. Some participants like that added focus. Some prefer to go "off theme" and read wherever their mood takes them. And both are perfectly and totally acceptable! The goal of this challenge is to read neglected books out of your TBR, whatever they may be.
Monthly Commentary Dates + Suggest Themes
January 21 - We Love Short Shorts! (Category romance, novellas, short stories)
February 18 - Recommended Read (A book recommended to you by another reader/blogger etc.)
March 18 - Series Catch-Up (A book in a series you are behind on)
April 15 - Contemporary
May 20 - Kickin' It Old School (Copyright date is 10 years or older)
June 17 - More Than One (An author who has more than one book in your TBR pile)
July 15 - Lovely RITA (past RWA RITA winner and/or nominees)
August 19 - Impulse Read (The book you bought because of the cover or The book you bought on impulse or The book you cannot remember why you bought in the first place!)
September 16 - Historical
October 21 - Paranormal or romantic suspense
November 18 - It's All About The Hype (a book or author that got everybody talking)
December 16 - Holiday Themes (Christmas, Valentine's Day, any holiday!)
If you would like to sign-up for next year's challenge - please leave a comment on this post, and include a link to where you will be posting your commentary. Or feel free to e-mail me the information. I will then post the links to all the participants on the 2015 TBR Challenge Information Page so people can follow along (and discover new blogs!)
I take sign-ups for the challenge year round - so if you don't get on board in January, it's not too late. I hope to see plenty of veterans back and a hearty round of newcomers! All aboard!
31 comments:
I plan on participating in this challenge, but I do not post anywhere except as a commenter on a couple of blogs. But for sure, I will be trying to pare down that TBR and using this list to do it. Thanks.
I'm in for my... 3rd or 4th year? I think for the last 2, I haven't missed a month - go me! And my print TBR pile is significantly more manageable now.
http://willaful.wordpress.com/
Nikki: And that works too! Over the years I've had a few people follow the challenge who didn't post anywhere. They just used the monthly themes as a guide to help them thin out their TBRs :)
Willaful: Your link as been added to the info page. I'm glad you're participating again next year!
I'm going to try to take a page out of your book this next year and focus solely on my print TBR for this challenge. We'll see how that goes though. Sometimes I get "under the gun" and end up having to read a novella out of the digital TBR to meet my own deadline!
I've seen this around for a few years and I am ready to join! My print TBR shelf has gotten out of control and I need help. I will be posting at my blog: http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com/.
Thanks for hosting!
I love this challenge so much. It has helped me grow and stretch as a reader. I'll be commenting on my books again this year on my blog:
http://keirasoleore.blogspot.com
Even though in 2014 I missed more than I made, I'm still in. Fingers crossed 2015 goes better. And as you know, I added a few to the TBR pile yesterday :)
http://phylsquiltsbooks.blogspot.com
I loved doing the TBR Challenge and love the themes. They give me some needed focus on a TBR that is doddering ... as I will be by the time I'm done. But, hey, that's the fun of the TBR: the moaning the groaning the adding of more and more books. I'm in for this year and grateful to you, Wendy, for graciously hosting the sluggards, like me, and the "A" pupils and everyone in between. I'll be posting monthly commentary at:
http://missbatesreadsromance.com
I'm certainly doing it again in 2015! Count me in! My blog: http://books-reading-vice.blogspot.pt/
Can't wait to start looking for books to fit the themes, that is actually the fun in it for me!
****
Jennifer, Keira, Phyl, Miss Bates and Sonia - I've got your links added to the information page!
Welcome aboard Jennifer!
Happy to see the rest of you back for another year!
Sounds fun! I'm not a blogger but would love to join the challenge.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4738614
Zannerina: And I've got you added to the information page! Thank you for joining.
I want to address my print TBR as well. Thanks for the idea.
I've started a new inner circle! We can call ourselves the Printettes.
Hmmm, I think my comment got eaten. Apologies if this double-posts. I'm in!
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/27213272-jill
Jill: Nope, no double comment! I've added you to the information page. Thanks!
I will join again, striving to do better.
AL: ::waving:: I've got you added! Thanks!
Thank YOU, m'dear, for keeping this wonderful challenge going.
Sounds like fun. I may not be able to complete all months, but I would like to try. Thank you for coordinating this challenge!
http://MeanFatOldBat.blogspot.com
MFOB: We're pretty loose with this Challenge. Some months you can. Some months you can't. Life being life and all.
I've got you added. Thanks for joining!
I'll be keeping track on my blog: http://backporchervations.blogspot.com. I'm not sure I have a book for each month's theme, but will follow along where I can.
Hi Wendy! It's been awhile! I hope you are well? I had a shameful year of nearly non-blogging in 2014 and I miss it! I'm going to try to hit the reset button a start anew for 2015. If you would add me to the roster with theromanticlife.blogspot.com, that would be great. I look forward to reconnecting with you and other romance blogging friends! :)
LuAnn: That's OK! The themes are completely optional and aren't required. I always have a couple participants who don't "do" the themes :)
Christine: ::waving:: Glad you're back! LOL - hey, at least my challenge will get you to blog once a month, right?
Hi Wendy. Happy New Year! I'm also pushing the reset button and will be joining all of you again in 2015.
I'm planning on participating as well for the first time. My blog is http://samsbookblog.blogspot.com. Thanks!
Welcome back Hilcia!
Samantha: Welcome aboard! I've got you added.
Sounds like a lot of fun!! http://series-ouslyaddicted.blogspot.com/2015/01/2015-tbr-challenge.html
Hi Elaine! I've got you added. Thanks!
I'm ready! I didn't do too good last year but I've got a huge pile of TBRs ready to go. My sign up post is here
Book Dragon: I've got you signed up! Thanks for joining!
Post a Comment