Third year’s the charm?? I have failed the TBR Pile Challenge twice in a row now (6/12 in 2013, 5/12 in 2014). I feel like I could do this challenge forever. I will always have books waiting to be read! I have high hopes for this year’s challenge, though. I ended up on a major book-buying binge in 2013 but never got around to them. This is the year: 2015 TBR Pile Challenge!
Here are the rules: in twelve months, read twelve books that have been sitting on your shelves unread for at least one year (so, nothing published on or after January 1, 2014). Adam of Roof Beam Reader (the challenge’s host) allows for two alternates in case you find you don’t like/can’t finish one of your chosen twelve. (Note: it doesn’t have to be in any particular order and you can go at your own pace.)
As I finish the books I’ll write a review post here on the blog, and then check them off and add the review post links on my master list page under the Book Challenges tab in the menu here.
| A Constellation of Vital Phenomena … Anthony Marra (2013) |
| Blood Meridian … Cormac McCarthy (1985) |
| Brain on Fire … Susannah Cahalan (2012) |
| Columbine … Dave Cullen (2009) |
| Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation … Michael Pollan (2013) |
| Flags of Our Fathers … James D. Bradley (2000) |
| In the Heart of the Sea … Nathaniel Philbrick (1999) |
| The Painted Girls … Cathy Marie Buchanan (2012) |
| Someone Knows My Name … Lawrence Hill (2007) |
| The Son … Philipp Meyer (2012) |
| Transatlantic … Colum McCann (2013) |
| We Are Water … Wally Lamb (2013) |
Alternates
Packing for Mars … Mary Roach (2010)
Zone One … Colson Whitehead (2011)
my little heart melodies 
I don’t know if it matters if you pass or fail; with those books you’ll win
Yeah maybe I was harsh on myself using the word “fail”! I am really excited about this year’s list I have, though—pretty sure I’ll get through more than just 5 of these!
I am currently reading Blood Meridian. I am not yet sure what I think of it.
I enjoyed other books by McCarthy so Blood Meridian ended up in my possession a couple years ago. Time to get to it!
I know what I am thinking about this book. I still need to finish it, then get my post up.
Good luck! I tend to fail at this challenge every year, but it is a fun one. I have a Mary Roach book on my list as well
Thanks! My husband read this Mary Roach last year and loved it, and I enjoyed Stiff and Bonk previously. Haven’t read a dud by Roach yet!