Howling Frog Books: 2020 TBR Challenges

I'm going to continue with Bev's TBR challenges next year. Adam, to my sorrow, will no longer be doing his. Bev hosts two:

The Mount TBR Reading Challenge is simple: pick how high you want to go. As always, I'll be aiming for 24 books from the pile, though that is not nearly as many as I should read

Excelsior!

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

And the rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade. All books counted for lower mountains carry over towards the new peak.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2018.

*You may sign up anytime from now until November 1st, 2018.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2018. No library books.

[snip: read at Bev's blog!]
*There will be quarterly check-ins and prize drawings!

My pile is bigger than ever, so I'm signing right up for 24 titles: Mont Blanc.

Titles read:

Bill, the Galactic Hero, by Harry Harrison
The Metal Monster, by A. Merritt
Siege Perilous, by Lester Del Rey
The Case Against Tomorrow, by Poul Anderson
Prisoners of Geography, by Tim Marshall
Passing, by Nella Larsen
Akenfield, by Ronald Blythe
The Cuckoo's Calling, by Robert Galbraith
When They Come for Us, We'll Be Gone, by Gal Beckerman

The Virtual Mount TBR Challenge is library-based, which is good for me because my pile of library books is nearly as large as my actual TBR pile. If the book is on your mental TBR list, and you get it from the library, it counts. I'll be aiming for Mt. Crumpit, which is also 24 books. Naturally, the virtual mountains are fictional.

I decided to create a Virtual Mount TBR Reading Challenge Books for all those folks with mile-long "wish-list" of TBRs who would like a chance to climb as well. The strategy and general set-up is the same--except you don't have to own the books. Heard about a great book from a friend, took note of the title, and then never got around to reading it? Saw a book online that you thought sounded intriguing but you keep putting off ordering it up from the library? You borrowed a book from somebody and need an extra push to read it and return it? This is the place for you!

Challenge Levels:
Mount Rum Doodle: Read 12 books
Mount Crumpit: Read 24 books
Mount Munch: Read 36 books
White Plume Mountain: Read 48 books
Stormness Head: Read 60 books
Mount Mindolluin: Read 75 books
Mount Seleya: Read 100 books
Mount Olympus: Read 150+ books

[In keeping with the virtual nature of the challenge, all mountains are fictional (references in comment below). How many do you recognize? The only one shared by both TBR challenges is Olympus--both fictional and on Mars. However, since I don't know actual heights, I have arbitrarily assigned the levels.]

~[UPDATE] Just to be clear: this challenge is only for books you do not own. They may be borrowed from the library, a friend, found on a free e-book site (like Project Gutenberg), or anywhere else that allows you to temporarily checkout the book. Also--unlike Mount TBR, there is no date limit on your wish list. If you see a book online that strikes your fancy after January 1 and you just have to go get it from the library, then it absolutely counts.

My library-books bookshelf is just as stuffed as my TBR bookshelf, so this will be good for me. I am pretty much going to limit myself to books from the library that I've been meaning to read since before Jan. 1, 2019. That is a lot of books. I'll aim for Mount Crumpit, 24 books. Also, I think the image for this challenge is great!

2020 TBR Challenges

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