Your TBR Reduction Book Challenge - Let Me Help You!

Hellooo!

So I usually like to increase your pile of books to be read and yes I admit a warm glow of satisfaction when I hear that you’ve been tempted. But spoilers I am just as liable to a good temptation. Pass a bookshop; sale or good review and magically books soon enter my house or e-reader (the latter a place where many books go to die unread as no one really knows what lives within them). So let your kind womble share their own TBR challenge and I hope this helps you too!

It has three simple rules

1 – It applies to your TBR pile as per 23.59 31/12/2021 no new books post this date can be used (but of course you can dd more to your TBR piles I am not cruel)

2 - If you are a book blogger no ARCs! Sorry, but this to cut down your own self-induced TBR.

3 – You can do one a month (or more if you fancy my stretch goals) but you only have to do twelve in a year and while I am applying some very loose monthly themes. You could do this in a sprint or just when you feel like

Finally, as I live in the Northern Hemisphere, I’m using the seasons as they apply to me; but you can completely reverse where suitable.

So are you ready? Then let’s begin

January – New Beginnings

1 – I give you permission to read the most recent book you got on top of your TBR. For many this is one we only get to read eventually but for now I want you to pick up the newest book in Mount TBR and read it. Can you remember the last time you did that?

Stretch Goal – Read the oldest book in Mount TBR it has waited long enough

February – Valentine’s Day Gift

2 – Is there that book by an author you love you picked up and still haven’t read because you do not deserve it just yet? Other items got in the way? You have for this challenge to pick that book up and read it

Stretch Goal – in Mount TBR you may have got a present from a loved one, friend or family member and still not read it. Pick one and read it

March – Fresh blooms

5 – For the beginning of Spring I want you to open a book in the TBR pile by an author you’ve never read before

Stretch Goal – March is named after Mars, so genre fans find a book that very likely has a big battle in it be it in space, our world or a secondary world.  Non-genre fans look for a book about a conflict be that a dilemma, family feud etc

April – New Openings

4 – April is derived from the Latin for ‘to open’ In Mount TBR there may be the first book of a series. Your challenge is to read it

Stretch Goal – as there is an Easter break in this month finish a series you started in one month or if you prefer the remainder of the year

May - Randommmmm

5 – You MAY pick one random book out of Mount TBR and you must read it

Stretch Goal - May was named after Maia the goddess who looked after plants. Find a book with a suitable green subject be it name, setting or theme

June – The Longest Day

6 – Find the longest book in Mount TBR and you must read it

Stretch Goal – June was named for Juno the Goddess of Youth and protection so read a book with a young person as the lead character

July – You Came, You Read and You Conquered

7 – In your TBR there may have been a book you know will be a challenging read. Show it who is the Emperor and read that book until it screams for your mercy and then finish it!

Stretch Goal – Pick a book with a royalty theme to it – Emperors, Queens, Duchesses and more all count

August – Holidayyyyy

8 – Pick a book that takes you away to another place. Read it and relax

Stretch Goal – August comes from Latin for consecrated or venerable. Find a books with Gods in and try not to annoy them so ensure the book is finished

September – Back to School

9 – Pick a book with some link to education. Dark Academia; dangerous school etc and try not to go near anyone who is very transphobic

Stretch Goal – Read seven short stories. Anthologies or short story collections are great for this (you may want to finish the whole book after seven though – innocent face!)

October – Booooo and Eeek

10 – Read a horror or dark themed tale (crime counts too!) you want to be unsettled!

Stretch Goal – Honour the reaper man and find a book that has a death theme

November – Short and Sweet

11 – Read three novellas

Stretch Goal – read the 11th book from the beginning or end of your TBR pile

December – Happy Endings

12 – Have you been holding back the finale of a series. Now time to see where it ends?

Stretch Goal – Find a book with a winter theme of some kind

So if you’re lucky that is at least 12 or 24 books removed from TBR and happily by the end of 2022 I will have filled all those spaces. I am all heart! Good luck Gentle Readers!!