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OK guys and gals--here it is, back by popular demand. . .

Clear the dust off those books on the TRB pile (or mountain range, depending on how rapidly you accumulate new books--hoping that the hubby doesn't notice that the floor joists are creaking from the strain, and that's just the physical books. Add in another couple of K in e-book format, and well.......)

For this challenge, you MUST read book from your TBR pile. You also MUST list them ahead of time (hence the long run-up for you all.) You may have 5 "extras" listed, in case for some reason you are unable to read one of the books from your main list. And yes, the list locks on Dec. 1, and you can't change either set of books. So spend some time thinking about them, dust off the shelves, get rid of the botany experiments that have sprung up in the dust and make up your list. And list (a guestimate if they are from the bottom of the pile) how long they've been on your tbr pile. Bonus points if the books have been in your tbr pile over a decade.

As an example (and I've taken these books from some of the suggestions that people have made, NOT from my tbr pile. Nope, no sir, NOT from my tbr pile at all.) I'm not using my personal books because, well, it's cold tonight and I'm bundled up in a nice blanket and just don't feel like climbing the stairs to the bookcases. . .

Clean off the TBR shelf Challenge


1) Austentatious by Alyssa Goodnight 2 years on the tbr pile.

2) Demon Moon by Meljean Brook on my Nook for the last (mumble) decade (mumble.)

3) Semi-Charmed by Isabel Jordan 3 years (No idea what this one about, but hey, someone suggested it on the /topic/show/... thread, so I'm pretending it's one that I have had in my tbr mountain range.) 6 years

4) Pyre of Dreams by Damian Huntley And again, from the above mentioned thread. 3 years

Anyway, you all get the idea, right?

Then, you do the same thing, only title the "also rans" as something else.

My Stand-by Books in case I am no longer excited by one of my old TBR books.

1) Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs I've owned it since the day it hit Amazon. Clutched in my hot little hands and have held on to it ever since--it even made the 6 hour move with me when we moved to the beach 4 years ago. (And I've already read it like, 10 times, but hey, it was sitting beside me, waiting to be re-read. But you all can't do that. It has to be books that you haven't read before, after all, we are trying to get that tbr pile down a tiny bit, getting ready for the new books coming in 2018.)

ugh. I'm in ... I just realized that there are still books on my TBR from when I joined in 2010. I need to seriously review and purge before deciding what's going on my December list.

There is a ton of YA from when my baby sister was in college ... we used to get together once a week to talk about books. She's 13 years younger than me and I always tried to pick something she might be interested in.

Thank goodness that I usually only add the next book in the series to my TBR instead of adding a full run. This girl loves her series and adding ALL THE BOOKS would truly make my TBR unmanageable.

Honestly, the only time I go digging thru my TBR is when I am in a slump. I'll google a random number generator, plug in the # of books on my shelf & let fate decide what to read next. My TBR currently stands at 342 with 17 more on my Maybe shelf. Actually, I'll probably use this method to pick my December books ... Wish me luck!

Good luck Melissa. I don't have any of my TBR books listed--because it would take way too much time. Time that could be better spend READING.

And besides, I'd hate to have more books in my TBR list than I have in my Read list, right?

Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy
December 2017 reading challenge
Duration: 12/1/2017 - 12/31/2017

Progress: 0 out of 16

Clear the dust off those books on the TRB pile (or mountain range, depending on how rapidly you accumulate new books--hoping that the hubby doesn't notice that the floor joists are creaking from the strain, and that's just the physical books. Add in another couple of K in e-book format, and well.......)

For this challenge, you MUST read book from your TBR pile. You also MUST list them ahead of time (hence the long run-up for you all.) You may have 5 "extras" listed, in case for some reason you are unable to read one of the books from your main list. And yes, the list locks on Dec. 1, and you can't change either set of books. So spend some time thinking about them, dust off the shelves, get rid of the botany experiments that have sprung up in the dust and make up your list. And list (a guestimate if they are from the bottom of the pile) how long they've been on your tbr pile. Bonus points if the books have been in your tbr pile over a decade.

As an example (and I've taken these books from some of the suggestions that people have made, NOT from my tbr pile. Nope, no sir, NOT from my tbr pile at all.) I'm not using my personal books because, well, it's cold tonight and I'm bundled up in a nice blanket and just don't feel like climbing the stairs to the bookcases. . .

Clean off the TBR shelf Challenge

Jennifer Estep Elemental Assassin Series:
Web of Lies #2
Venom #3
Tangled Threads #4
Spider’s Revenge #5
By a Thread #6
Widow’s Web #7
Deadly Sting #8
Heart of Venom #9
The Spider #10
Poison Promise #11
Black Widow #12
Spider’s Trap #13
Bitter Bite #14
Unraveled #15
Snared #16
Venom in Her Veins #17

So is there a certain of books we should be picking or is just what we think is enough to tide us over to December 31st?

I’m in.
TBR Clean up
9/15

1. White Tiger (Shifters Unbound, #8) by Ashley, Jennifer
2. Steel (Rent-a-Dragon #1) by Bolryder, Terry 12/16/17
3. Force of Temptation (The Mercury Pack, #2) by Wright, Suzanne
4. Draven (Sons of Sangue, #4.5) by Rasey, Patricia A. 12/10/12
5. Lawe's Justice (Breeds, #26; Feline Breeds, #15) by Leigh, Lora 12/25/17
6. Internal Temptation (CSA Case Files, #5) by Layne, Kennedy 12/5/17
7. Indecent Werewolf Exposure (Werewolves, Vampires and Demons, Oh My, #1) by Langlais, Eve 12/28/17
8. Jarek (Dragons of Preor, #1) by Kyle, Celia
9. Aerdan (Zhekan Mates #1) by James, E.A. 12/17/17 12/12/17
10. Green Bearets: Luther (Base Camp Bears, #1) by Jade, Amelia 12/21/17



~ALTERNATES~
1. Fierce Obsessions (The Phoenix Pack, #6) by Wright, Suzanne
2. Radiant Surrender (CSA Case Files, #6) by Layne, Kennedy 12/9/12
3. Charming the Beast (Purgatory, #3) by Eden, Cynthia
4. Awakened by Fire (Dragons of Bloodfire, #2) by Kellison, Erin
5. Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance, #2; Demonica, #7) by Ione, Larissa

IT's the same number as normal, 10. But, because you can't change your list you are allowed 5 "oops, no way can I read War and Peace in the time given, so I'm going to go with #2 on my back-up list, Times-Square Samurai: or The Improbable Japanese Occupation of New York instead. (Yes, I know that neither is PNR, but they are an exaggerated example.)

So you list a total of 15 books, but they are divided into 10 and 5. If you want to read all 15, go for it. If you can only make 2, go for those 2. The challenge and how many books you read is entirely up to you. You just need to dust off that tbr pile and maybe make your house a little safer. Plus, you know, widen out some of those "hoarder paths" a bit.

I'm in!
But I will need to put some heavy thinking into what should be on my list.
15/10 Completed + 42
"Clean up the TBR pile.�� ~ December 2017

�� 1 ~ 2012 - Magic in the Shadows (Allie Beckstrom #3) by Devon Monk done 12-1-17
�� 2 ~ 2012 - Tempt the Stars (Cassandra Palmer #6) by Karen Chance done 12-6-17
�� 3 ~ '13 - Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Night Huntress World #2) by Jeaniene Frost 12-15
�� 4 ~ '12 - Dreams Underfoot: Newford Collection (Newford #1) by Charles de Lint 12-8
�� 5 ~ '12 - Lord of Misrule (The Morganville Vampires #5) by Rachel Caine done 12-11-17
�� 6 ~ May - A Scandal in Battersea (Elemental Masters #12) by Mercedes Lackey 12-17
�� 7 ~ 2016 - Eleventh Grave in Moonlight (Charley Davidson#11) byDarynda Jones 12-3
�� 8 ~ 2016 - Magic & Manners (Austen Chronicle #1) by C.E. Murphy done 12-28-17
�� 9 ~ 2013 - Darkness Raging (Otherworld/Sisters #18) by Yasmine Galenorn 12-4-17
10 ~ 2014 - Dawn Study (Soulfinders #3) by Maria V. Snyder

ALTERNATES
1 ~ 2016 - Renegades (Renegades #1) by Marissa Meyer
�� 2 ~ 2015 - Black Widow (Elemental Assassin #12) by Jennifer Estep done 12-19-17
�� 3 ~ June - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (#1) by Douglas Adams 12-3-17
�� 4 ~ Jan - Besieged (The Iron Druid Chronicles) by Kevin Hearne done 12-7-17
�� 5 ~ 2016 - Mostly Harmless (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #5) by Douglas Adams done 12-31-17
�� 6 ~ 2015 - Hot Mama (Bigtime, #2) by Jennifer Estep done 12-11-17
7 ~ Sept - The Rules of Magic (Practical Magic #2) by Alice Hoffman
8 ~ Aug - All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater
9 ~ May - The Witch's Daughter (Shadow Chronicles #1) by Paula Brackston
�� 10 ~ Oct - The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes done 12-13-17
�� Commonwealth by Ann Patchett done 12-28-17

READ Amazed myself with this many books.

I'm in!
1/10 Read

1. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire Been on my TBR list since 2010
2. Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur I put this on my TBR shelf before it came out...still sitting there
3. Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane
4. The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney I added this one back in 2010...I liked the cover
5. Blade Bound by Chloe Neill
6. Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper
7. Mind Games by Carolyn Crane
8. The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey
9. Cold Hard Secret by Sierra Dean
10. Wildfire by Ilona Andrews 5 STARS



Alternatives
1. The King J.R. Ward Bought it the day it came out...still sitting there.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Last year I read 5 books in December - and only 3 the year before that. I've been averaging about 18 books per month this year so I'm curious how that will affect my December reading for 2017.

5/10 Read


�� 1. Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi 12/1/17 ★★★★��
�� 2. Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin 12/6/17 ★★��
�� 3. Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow 12/13/17 ★★★★��
�� 4. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost 12/19/17 ★★★★
�� 5. The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan 12/20/17 ★★★★
6. The Grave Keepers by Elizabeth Byrne (Currently Reading)
7. Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
8. Aloha from Hell by Richard Kadrey
9. Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
10. Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon




Alternates
1. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
2. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
3. Nightlife by Rob Thurman
4. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
5. Angel Fever by L.A. Weatherly
6. Going Bovine by Libba Bray
7. Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake



Other Books read:


Total books for December 2018: 14

Pnr & UF - December 2017

1/3

1) March 2009 - The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas
2) April 2009 - Evil Ways by Justin Gustainis
3) May 2009 - The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
4) May 2009 - The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
5) December 2009 - Fangland by John Marks
6) April 2010 - The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
7) July 2010 - Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
8) May 2010 - Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker by Syrie James
9) January 2012 - Anno Dracula by Kim Newman - 30th December
10) January 2013 - The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider's Guide by J.R. Ward

Alternates
1) August 2009 - Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole
2) September 2009 - The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton
3) October 2009 - Covet by J.R. Ward
4) January 2010 - The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter
5) December 2011 - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Definitely read Anno Dracula! It's one of the best books I've ever read!

Charlotte (Buried in Books) wrote: "Pnr & UF - December 2017

0/3

1) March 2009 - The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas
2) April 2009 - Evil Ways by Justin Gustainis
3) May ..."

Thank you for the recommendation Kitka, think I might start it this weekend.

Clean off the TBR shelf Challenge
1 December to 31 December, 2017

2/10 Read

1. Born in Blood by Alexandra Ivy �� Added Jan 2015
2. Undead and Unreturnable by MaryJanice Davidson �� Added Nov 2015 (29/12/2017) ★★��
3. Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews �� Added Jan 2017 (22/12/2017) ★★★★��
4. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris �� Bought the book in 2013
5. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs �� Added Nov 2014
6. Shadow of the Vampire by Meagan Hatfield �� Added Dec 2014
7. Krac's Firebrand by S.E. Smith �� Added Jan 2015
8. Masked by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon �� Added April 2015
9. Dead Man's Deal by Jocelynn Drake �� Added Jul 2015
10. Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton �� Bought the book in 2010

Title/Author: Whichwood by Tahereh Mafi
Read: 12/1/2017
Rating: ★★★★��

Tahereh Mafi is just amazing. I love her writing style so much. Bronson Pinchot is a perfect fit for this audiobook. He does a fantastic job narrating.

My daughter & I listened to Furthermore last year and couldn't wait for this companion book to be released. It's not necessary to read Furthermore before reading Whichwood but will add some character depth knowing Alice & Oliver's story.

Whichwood is everything I want in a story ... full of friendship, action and lots of darkness to overcome.

This is a middle grade book but for 4th & 5th graders, I would caution that there are a few scary parts. (view spoiler)[The description of Laylee's job is a little disturbing - she washes the dead and prepares them for their final rest. Also, there's a part where the ghosts of the dead steal the skins of the living who have abandoned them. The living are left to flop about without their skin. (hide spoiler)]

I'm in

Please make sure you all go check out the 2018 Challenges Discussion thread

I need feedback from you all on any Challenges that might be coming in 2018. If you aren't interested we can stop doing them, so please give me some input.

I have been stuck in a re-read mood lately...granted it's for a series on this list, but I still haven't picked up anything else. I gotta fix that!

Lynn--tis the time of the year, I think. At least, I've been finding myself doing that a lot for the last 2 or 3 months. Mostly thinking about how much I miss my Mum and Dad and second youngest brother. It's been 17 years for Dad and Tim, and 5 years for my Mum. And I've been on a re-reading all the books that I loved as a kid, ya and even some that I enjoyed when my daughter was young. I just haven't been in the mood to read ANYTHING written in this century. Like you, I keep telling myself that I need to fix that, but, well, like I said, it's the time of year. When spring rolls around and I'm able to be outside more, I'll be much better, but for now, I've decided to just roll with it. (And that reminds me--I need to find Riders of the Purple Sage which was one of my Dad's favourite books, and re-read it. . .)

I'm so sorry for your loss. The holidays can be a difficult time when you miss someone. I hope you find comfort in your re-readings. Merry Christmas!