Off The Shelf Reading Goals
Last year I joined The TBR Pile Challenge and that didn’t work out very well. It was the only challenge I failed. I didn’t read any of the books I put on my challenge list. For most of the year I managed to forget all about them and instead read the shiny new books coming in the door.
Inspired by Diane at Bibliophile by Sea‘s 2013 Bucket List of books, I decided to create my own list of books I meant to read. A few of these were recommended to me (Outlander, many, many times) or I read a great review (The Summer House on Book Journey), or I loved the first book in the series (Dresden Files) and couldn’t wait to read the next one. Each has a story and a reason to be read.
This is not a challenge but instead a (perpetual) list of books that, when I do get around to choosing from my older shelf, I will choose from these first. No pressure, no time limit, in no particular order, and best of all, no failure. Reading is supposed to be fun.
The Books
- Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
- The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
- The Summer House by Jude Deveraux
- Birdology by Sy Montgomery
- The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
- The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
- Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
- Under The Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
- Fool Moon (The Dresden Files #2) by Jim Butcher
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Have you read any of these?
When I do read and review one of my Off The Shelf books, I’ll indicate my success with a link back to the list and my shelf logo. My first one will the The Stars My Destination (a sci-fi classic) for the Science Fiction Experience.
Do you have reading goals that are not part of a ‘challenge’?
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Under My Apple Tree 
Leslie, I have only read Outlander, which I had vowed to read and would recommend in a heartbeat. Good luck “clearing your shelves”. It would take me ages to do so. It’s hard to resist that tempting new book, isn’t it?! 🙂
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I fear the shelves will never get ‘cleared’! But this is a tiny start.
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The only one of these I’ve read is The Things They Carried. It will stay with you a long time.
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I read an awesome review a few years ago, bought the book, and still haven’t read it. 😦
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Reading is supposed to be fun. <~~Amen!
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I keep telling myself that!
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I read Under the Tuscan Sun (better than the movie imo) and Outlander. The Summer House is on my shelf – I think Sheila (from Book Journey) convinced me to read it 🙂 Hoping to read it this year. Good luck with the challenge, Leslie.
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Yup, it was Sheila. She raved and raved and, I remember, even bought multiple copies of it. LOL
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Sheila is the reason I read The Summer House, too. I loved it, but I’m not sure it’s your kind of book, Leslie. A may-be. 🙂
The Road is a great story, one I do think you’ll enjoy. I read Case Histories too but don’t remember much about it. It’s OK, I think.
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I’ve read one and listened to one. Do not get the audio version of Under the Tuscan Sun – it’s read by the author and it shouldn’t have been.
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I have it in print. There are only a very few authors that should be allowed to read their own books!
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Case Histories is really good, though you will then want to read the next 3 books featuring Jackson Brodie.
I just read The Sparrow last month and I was underwhelmed. It was ok, but not as wonderful as people led me to believe.
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I was at an event where Mary Doria Russell was a speaker and when she talked about The Sparrow it sounded so unusual, plus all the great recommendations, that I had to get a copy. I like science fiction, and it does sound kind of scifi-ish.
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The only book that I have read on that list is The Road and I loved it. It is very dark and bleak and very sad. But it is a great read.
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I like dystopian tales so dark will be ok… I hope!
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Awesome that you will be continuing your Jim Butcher Dresden Files. This is one of my favorite series. I have read a few Neal Stephensons (Cryptonomicon, Anathem) that were quite good and Snow Crash has been on my bookshelf forever. I read Gabaldon’s Outlander like…er…15+ years ago and I have that series on my list to read this year. I look forward to your thoughts on these books.
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I found the Dresden Files when the short-lived TV show aired and loved it. I ran out and bought the first seven books, but so far only read the first one. I also have a copy of Cryptonomicon that I picked up at a used book sale but it’s so big it scares me! I stumbled across Outlander years ago when the HIghlander movies came out.
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Yes I want to create a list myself and I hope it will help me to read the TBR list
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The Things They Carried is one of the best war novels I’ve ever read. Good luck with your challenge!
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I have read and LOVED The Sparrow and Outlander. Both are on my all-time fave list.
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