Amazon discontinued the ability to create images using their SiteStripe feature and in their infinite wisdom broke all previously created images on 12/31/23. Many blogs used this feature, including this one. Expect my archives to be a hot mess of broken book cover images until I can slowly comb through 20 years of archives to make corrections.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Sign-Up Now: #TBRChallenge 2017

Sign-up now for your chance to participate in the 2017 TBR Challenge! 

What is the TBR Challenge?  Once a month participants pull a long-neglected book out of their TBR (To-Be-Read) piles, read it, and provide "commentary" on that book on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.

Commentary on your chosen read can happen anywhere online: your blog, Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads etc.  Hashtag = #TBRChallenge

Frequently Asked Questions:

1) Dear Lord, you're going to make us do homework?  Yes.  Honestly, it's fun.  For participants of the challenge (and those who just follow along), the 3rd Wednesday of the month is a guarantee day of "book talk."  And, you know, older books - not the latest, greatest thing that's been promo'd half to death the past several weeks.

2) Dear Lord, you have themes?!  Yes.  I took over hosting this challenge in 2011 and the idea of themes came with it.  Some participants like the themes (which I try to keep broad) to help them focus when faced with the insurmountable crush of their TBRs.  However, the themes are optional!  The goal of this challenge is to read something (anything!) out of your TBR.  If you don't like the theme(s) - don't follow it.

3) So do I win anything if I complete the challenge?  Yes. Personal satisfaction.  I like to keep this challenge stress-free, so if you skip a month, post your commentary late (or early), go off theme etc. - the TBR Police will not be showing up at your door.

Great!  How do I sign up?

1) Leave a comment on this blog post, e-mail me or hit me up on Twitter.  I need whatever name you post under and a link to where you'll be posting your commentary.  So, for example: Wendy, The Misadventures of Super Librarian.  I will include your name and link on this dedicated page for the challenge so folks can follow along.

Commentary "due dates" and themes for next year are below:

January 18 - We Love Short Shorts! (category romance, short stories, novella etc.)
February 15 - New-To-You Author
March 15 - Comfort Read (Favorite Author? Favorite Trope? Favorite Sub Genre?)
April 19 - Contemporary
May 17 - Something Different (outside your comfort zone, unusual setting, non-romance etc.)
June 21 - Favorite Trope (a favorite theme - amnesia? secret baby? fairy tale? friends-to-lovers? etc.)
July 19 - Series Catch-Up (a book from a series you're behind on)
August 16 - Kicking It Old School (publication date 10 years or older)
September 20 - Historical
October 18 - Paranormal or Romantic Suspense
November 15 - Recommended Read (a book recommended to you by someone)
December 20 - Holiday Themes

It really is a lot of fun, plus a handy way to delude yourself into thinking that you're making progress on your TBR pile. 

52 comments:

Unknown said...

Burns Through Her Bookshelf

https://burnsthroughherbookshelf.wordpress.com/

Rowena said...

Wendy!

I'm going to sign up for this and try my hardest to participate every month on Book Binge. Sign me up, pretty please! I'm looking forward to this one! :)

Rowena
Blog: http://bookbinge.com

willaful said...

I think I need comfort reads every month...

willaful, www.wordpress.willaful.com

Phyl said...

I'm in again! Thanks for continuing to host. It really is appreciated.

phylsquiltsbooks.blogspot.com

azteclady said...

I think this is my fifth year, and I'm as much a failure at it as ever...but I'll try, again.

azteclady
herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com

(Thank you, Miz Wendy!)

S. said...

Hello!
I really like this challenge and trying to follow the themes!

Sonia @ http://books-reading-vice.blogspot.pt/
Happy reading!! :)

Wendy said...

Thank you Erin, Rowena, Willaful, Phyl, AL and S! I've got your blogs linked on the 2017 TBRChallenge information page.

Unknown said...

Whoohoo! Another year to self flagellate ;) Thanks for hosting Wendy!

azteclady said...

Self-flagellation: favorite past-time!

Keira Soleore said...

Thank you for doing this year after year. Please sign me up for another year.
Keira
Cogitations & Meditations
http://keirasoleore.blogspot.com

ValancyBlu said...

Yes Please - I love the (rather short-lived) feeling of supreme self-righteousness that comes posting...
Thank you, splendaciously-superior-Wendy for your superb hosting skills. :)

Valancy,

Blue Castle Considerations
https://bluecastleconsiderations.com/

Jill said...

I would like to try this year. Can I leave a shortish comment on your blog? I follow along every year. Thanks for hosting.

Wendy said...

Keira & Valancy: I've got you both added.

Jill: Leaving a comment on my blog would be fine.

Lynn Spencer said...

I've lost track of how many years I've been doing this, but I always enjoy myself. Count me in!

Wendy said...

Lynn: I want to say you've done it every year since I took over hosting? Maybe? And I think I took over hosting from Keishon in 2011? Gah, where does the time go?!

Anyway, I have you added and have listed AAR's blog as the link. If Caz, or anyone else from AAR joins you, I'll add their names :)

RND said...

Coming out of lurkdom to try this upcoming year.

RND: https://www.goodreads.com/RNXTD

If that link doesn't work, let me know. Thanks for hosting the Challenge. I always enjoy reading people's comments.

Bona Caballero said...

Hi. I'm going to keep on doing this TBR Challenge in 2017.

Bona

http://romanticanorosa.blogspot.com.es/

Wendy said...

RND and Bona: I've got you both added! Thanks for joining!

Unknown said...

Hi Wendy, please include me in the 2017 challenge. I'm Elizabeth Harmon and I'll be posting on my Booklikes page, http://elizabethharmon.booklikes.com/

Wendy said...

Hi Elizabeth!
Thanks for signing up again! I've added the links to your Booklikes account to the Information page.

Jennifer said...

I have loved doing this challenge for the past two years so I am definitely in for another year. You can find my reviews at my blog: http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com.

Thanks for hosting, Wendy!

Wendy said...

Jennifer: Thanks for signing up again Jennifer! I've got you added to the 2017 page.

Caz said...

Yay! I'm in again. I'll be posting at my blog and at AAR with Lynn again :)

Wendy said...

Caz: I've got you added. Thanks for signing up again!

Julia said...

Signing up again for 2017!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1966145-julia

Dorine said...

I LOVED participating this year and visiting everyone's blogs. Thanks for organizing this, Wendy. :)

Dorine at The Zest Quest: http://thezestquest.com/

Unknown said...

Officially signing up!!!

www.whatwillshereadnext.wordpress.com

Unknown said...

I'm in again this year!

www.lynnbalabanos.com/blog

Laura K. Curtis said...

Count me in! http://www.laurakcurtis.com/blog-2/

Dorine said...

I love your graphic for this year's challenge, Wendy! May I borrow it when I post about the challenges I'm doing this year and link back to you?

Wendy said...

Overdue updating: Julie, Dorine, Amy, Lynn, and Laura - I've got you all added.

Dorine (and anybody else interested): Yes! You can certainly swipe the graphic if you'd like to use it on your own blog etc.

Dorine said...

Awesome - thank you!

Padmajha said...

I would like to sign in
PJ @ Me and My Bookshlef
http://meandmybookshelf.blogspot.in/2016/12/reading-challenges-2017.html
Interesting challenge, thanks for hosting :)

Wendy said...

Hi PJ! Thanks for signing up. I've added a link to your blog on the 2017 TBR Challenge Information Page.

Karen said...

Sign me up please!
Karen
Goodreads.com/msKMGill

Wendy said...

Hi Karen: Thanks for signing up! I've added a link to your GoodReads page on the 2017 TBR Challenge information page.

Lillian @ Mom with a Reading Problem said...

Count me in Wendy!

Lillian @ Mom with a Reading Problem (http://www.momwithareadingproblem.com)

Goals Post: http://www.momwithareadingproblem.com/2016/12/2017-reading-challenges-accepted-part-2/

Unknown said...

Samantha @ Romance Lover Anonymous http://romanceloveranonymous.com/

Kathryn said...

I managed only one post in 2016 and then life went pear-shaped (as it so often does) and nothing after that. But what the heck, I'm going to try again and maybe this year I will manage at least two posts. Kathryn at https://innumerablepages.wordpress.com.

Wendy said...

Today was a day where I caught up with blog housekeeping :)

Kathryn, Samantha and Lillian - I've added links to your blogs on the 2017 TBR Challenge information page. Thanks for signing up!

suzqz said...

I'm in! I'll provide commentary at https://susanopines.com. Thanks!

Kelly Gunter Atlas said...

My current blog is brand new, but I want to participate this year.

The KatLass https://katlass.wordpress.com/

Thanks!

willaful said...

Wow, what a lineup! Is this a bigger crowd that usual or did I just not notice before?

Wendy said...

Suz & Kelly: I've added links to your blogs to the 2017 TBR Challenge Information Page.

Willaful: It's usually right around this number, although down from last year - when I saw over 50 people sign-up. I think it seems like more because the last few months of the 2016 Challenge saw a significant drop-off. Even as hostess I found myself limping to the finish line...

Unknown said...

I would love to joinI'm Kimberly at Nelms Tree Books http://nelmstreebooks.blogspot.com/

Wendy said...

Hello Kimberly! Thanks for signing up. I've added a link to your blog to the Information Page.

Nospheratt said...

Hi! I did only 4 posts last year, but it was so much fun to play along. I want to try again. :)

I'll post my reviews on my blog at http://ryvrjones.com/

As always, thank you Wendy for hosting the challenge! <3

Wendy said...

Nospheratt: Link added and you're all signed up!

~ames~ said...

Hey Wendy I'm joining the challenge this year!

Wendy said...

Hey, hey Ames! I've got you all signed up. Look at it this way - if you stick with the Challenge it will help with your blogging mojo :)

Darlene Franklin said...

This looks like a good fit for me. I'll post on Goodreads under my name Darlene Franklin. belovedfranklin (at) msn (dot) com

Wendy said...

Hi Darlene!
Thanks for signing up. I've added a link to your GR's page on the 2017 TBR Challenge Information Page.