JoV's Book Pyramid
All challenges run from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
Challenge 1: TBR challenges in different guises
It is with sheer trepidation that I am signing up to two challenges of reading off my shelves again. This madness of acquiring books without reading them cannot go on and I agree with the host that the purpose of this challenge is to:
“decrease the size of the stack, not let it metastasize all over your bookshelves like some kind of fascinating but ultimately dangerous literary cancer.”
So that’s what I wanted to do. For Off the shelf challenge, I’ll be aiming for 30 books to read.
Making A Dint – Choose 30 books to read
At Christmas day 2011, I have 240 unread books at home, I aim to read about 15 % (about 35 books) of the total unread books. If at weak resolve I acquire more books in 2012, that will skew my 15% target and I’ll never be able to achieve it. 
Roof Beam Reader 2012 tbr pile challenge : I’m also joining Roof Beam Reader’s TBR challenge. They are all one of the same challenge why sign-up for more you’d say? Well, the more pressure the better. This madness of not reading from my own shelf is going too far!!!
So here’s another try for the 12 next year and two alternates:
- Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres
- The Bird Song – Sebastian Faulk
- Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- My Name is Red – Orhan Pamuk
- A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
- Fingersmith – Sarah Waters
- The Dark Side of Love – Rafik Schami
- Enduring Love by Ian Mcewan
- A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
- The Moor’s Last Sigh – Salman Rushdie
- Wolf Totem – Jiang Rong
- The Poisonwood’s Bible – Barbara Kingsolver
- White Teeth – Zadie Smith
- Small Island – Andrea Levy
2. Middle Eastern Challenge 2012
- Desert by JMG Le Clezio
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3. Tea and Books reading challenge
I will be trying out for the Chamomile Tea level at 2 books and achieve it I may feel motivated enough to drink Earl Grey after that!
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4. Non-fiction non memoir challenge
I can’t see the year goes by without reading any non-fiction. They are my guilty pleasure and I will endeavour to read more in the new year than what I read this year.
- Banker to the poor by Muhammad Yunus
- So you think you know about Britain? by Danny Dorling
- Meeting Mr Kim by Jennifer Barclay
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5. Graham Greene Reading Challenge
Like Carrie I’m reminded how I love The Quiet American, when I first introduced to Graham Greene, since then I read another 3 of his novels.
The Quiet American by Graham Greene
The End of the Affair By Graham Greene
The Heart of the Matter By Graham Greene
The Power and The Glory, Graham Greene
For this challenge, I’m getting my feet wet (level title) with 2 Graham Greene books read for 2012. I’ll join in on the Brighton Rock readalong and maybe read “The Man in Havana” or “The Comedian” or “The General’s consul”. There are so many to choose from!
Over 2 years I have accummulated a lot of books written by Indian Authors and this year I’ll be taking this opportunity to participate in the South asian challenge!
These are some of the books I have in my shelf which qualifies:
- Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
- Fasting, Feasting by Anita Desai
- The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh
- A Suitable Boy, by Vikram Seth
- A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
- Tiger Hills by Sarita Mandanna
- Mr. Sampath – The Printer of Malgudi, The Financial Expert, Waiting for the Mahatma by R.K. Narayan
- and a few Salman Rushdie’s books (Satanic Verses, The Moor’s Last Sigh and Enchantress of Florence)
Just off the boat: 1-3 books
This land is my land?: 4-6 books
Fully assimilated: 6+ books
8. 1001 books you must read before you die challenge
I’m choosing the level in bold:
Got to trials: 5 books from the list
Made the Olympic team: 6-10 books from the list
Bronze medal: 11-15 books from the list
Silver Medal: 16-20 books from the list:
Gold Medal: 21+ books from the list
9. Japanese Literature 6
The challenge will begin in June 2012.
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Discussion
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This year’s TBR books to read
2012 Reading Challenge
Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking. - Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
if you’re up for the 1001 books challenge, you might also be interested in the spreadsheet or iPhone app which help you track your progress with the list.
Head on over to my book blog for more.
Good luck with the challenge, and if you’re interested in a free coupon for that iPhone app in exchange for a review… let’s talk!
Posted by Arukiyomi | March 31, 2012, 9:41 am