BBleil's Books off the Shelf Challenge 2012

It's time to get ready for 2012!

In 2011, I started with an initial goal of reading 12 books from my shelves. This year, my goal is to double last year and read 24 books from my shelves. This is half of my current TBR shelf.

1. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (3.5 stars)
2. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand (4.5 stars)
3. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson (5 stars)
4. Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields (skimmed, no rating)
5. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (4 stars)
6. Coventry: A Novel by Helen Humphreys (skimmed, no rating)
7. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (4 stars)
8. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (3.5 stars)
9. The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard (read very little, no rating)
10. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (2 stars)
11. The Likeness by Tana French (4 stars)
12. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees (read first quarter, lost interest, read the last part)
13. French Lessons by Ellen Sussman (3 stars)
14. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (4 stars, 2nd reading)
15. After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell (incomplete read, no rating)
16. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (4 stars, second reading)

Welcome to the fight against unread books! We're all with you and hopefully together we can all succeed!

I have never set a target for reading a set number of books in a year. In 2011 I managed to read 17 books. Not having much time to read I will not set too challenging a target for 2012. I'll go for 20.

Apart from setting a numeric target for getting books off the TBR pile in 2012, I am following a project based approach which I do not see as time constrained. I am planning to read all the novels of George A. Birmingham (69 in number), review each one and document the change in social attitudes that is documented in his work over their years of publication, 1905 to 1950.

I plan to intermingle my Birmingham books with other reading, so it is likely to take a few years for my pet project to reach conclusion.

This is the first time I've ever tried anything like this. Those of you who've done it before with success are an inspiration.

Meredy,

I'm not so sure I'm successful. Last year I read 65 books off my shelves but added 111 (not counting the ones I'll purchase tomorrow with my gift cards)! I'm losing ground!

And loving it, no doubt.

Sadly Cheli, it seems to be a common affliction round here. I too bought twice as much as I read. Sigh.

Meredy,

Somehow I am going to "suffer" through with this affliction. I definitely don't want to be cured! LOL :-)

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell (3.5 stars)

The first day of 2012 and I have already finished a book from the TBR shelf! I learned of Sarah Vowell only recently, but I really like her. She makes history much cooler than I previously thought. She rights of history, politics and pop culture as a member from my generation which I totally understand. She also writes about Washington, DC and New York, my two favorite cities.

I got that one for Christmas! Glad to hear it was a good read. :)

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

4.5 stars

This book has been on the bestsellers list for awhile, and I have been looking forward to reading it just as long. Laura Hillenbrand does not disappoint! The story of Louis Zamperini is an amazing one and almost unbelievable. He was a college and Olympic athlete and then entered the airforce when the war interrupted his training for the next Olympics. He became stranded at sea and was found by the Japanese becoming a Prisoner of War.

I learned a lot about Japan during WWII and their cruel treatment of POWs. I got to know many of the men surrounding Zamperini's life (for good and bad) and I witnessed the joy that someone can infuse into their life from even from the most terrible circumstances.

I'm a big fan of Laura Hillenbrand, and I find her work to be thorough and well researched. She writes in a way that makes you feel so involved in the gripping story that you don't realize how quickly you are moving along in the book. It's even more amazing when you consider her own health issues. I believe that she doesn't travel much which I think makes writing these extensive history pieces even more amazing.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

5 stars

I don't typically refer to books as "cute," but this book was so sweet to read. I really loved the characters, even the ones that were quite infuriating. I fell in love with the Major, admired Mrs. Ali, felt sorry for Grace, was bemused by the nephew (and later annoyed with him) and quite angry with the son, Roger, and a myriad amount of villege folk.

The story is about two widowed people from completely different walks of life who find each other and explore friendship and love while everyone sticks their snobby nose in their business. It was funny at times and sad too. I love Jane Austen novels and this reminded me of her work with quirky characters and relationships (both familial and romantic) that go awry.

I must finish Major Pettigrew. I was 3/4 of the way through it when the book was recalled to the library, and oh! I was annoyed. It is a lovely book, isn't it, and isn't Mrs Ali a wonderful character?

#13 Hi Ramblingivy,
It's definitely a charming book and the characters are wonderful. I think Mrs. Ali and the Major are perfect for each other. I convinced my book club to read it!