TBR Challenge - FAQs

The group often has questions about how this Challenge works, exactly. So, I've made up a list of FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs), and will add to this list as we go along. :o)

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TBR CHALLENGE FAQs

Q) DO I HAVE TO LIST MY CHALLENGE BOOKS SOMEWHERE?

A) You don't "have" to do this, no. But, if you'd like others to be able to comment on what you're reading, or to encourage you as the year goes on, it's helpful to have your books listed somewhere. You can list them on a blog, or in our Yahoo! Group's "Files" section.

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Q) WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE A BLOG?

A) Feel free to sign the Mr. Linky with just your name, or to join our Yahoo! group. The Yahoo! Group is a great place to read about what other participants are reading, to find out whether or not you're the only one who is behind (or ahead!) in their reading goals, and/or to just talk about books!

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Q) DO THE BOOKS ON MY LIST HAVE TO BE 1st-READS, OR CAN THEY BE RE-READS?

A) The group has decided that re-reads DO NOT COUNT, as the whole purpose of the TBR Challenge is to read books that have sat on your shelves (or a list), UNread, for quite some time.

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Q) CAN I LIST AUDIOBOOKS AS PART OF MY OFFICIAL 12?

A) Yes! Just so long as they're "to-be-read" books.

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Q) DO I HAVE TO HAVE AN ACTUAL "SHELF" OF TBR BOOKS, OR CAN MY LIST OF 12 BE COMPILED FROM A MENTAL LIST OF BOOKS?

A) You don't have to have the actual books you're putting on your list of 12, no. Some people don't hoard books (like other book-fanatics that will remain unnamed!), so you're free to use a "mental list", if that's what you have.

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Q) IS THE CHALLENGE THAT YOU HAVE TO READ ONE BOOK PER MONTH, OR IS IT 12 BOOKS IN ONE YEAR?

A) 12 books in one year is all that matters. Some people read faster than others.

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Q) WHAT IF I WANT TO READ A BOOK THAT ISN'T ON MY ORIGINAL LIST OF 12 BOOKS?

A) A lot of people have listed both their official 12 books, and they've also created what we've now termed an "Alternates" List. This is an extra list of books that you might want to read, given one of your "official" challenge books doesn't grab you, or you just find you want something different than you'd originally planned. Often a reader's mood, or tastes, will change. The "Alternates" list affords you some flexibility and variety. You just substitute one of your 'alternates' for the challenge book that didn't interest you. ;)

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Q) DO I HAVE TO READ MY BOOKS IN THE ORDER THAT I'VE WRITTEN THEM DOWN?

A) Nope! Read them in whatever order you choose!

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Q) CAN THE BOOKS ON MY TBR CHALLENGE LIST OVERLAP WITH OTHER CHALLENGE LISTS?

A) Yes! Absolutely! :D

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Q) CAN I INCLUDE e-BOOKS ON MY CHALLENGE LIST?

A) It's been decided that e-Books ARE allowed, but there are some conditions: You may add them any time they come available for download... BUT, you must post the title to your list BEFORE January 1st! You cannot add e-Book titles (or any other book titles, for that matter!) to your list after December 31, 2007!

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Q) WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRIZES???

A) Mizbooks, the Challenge Hostess, found it to be much too difficult to keep track of who had read the "required" amount of books necessary to be eligible for the prizes. So, to save herself the headache, she did away with the official "prizes". Your new "prize" is just to know that you are knocking books off the ever-growing TBR Mountain! ;-)

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Q) WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO BE A PART OF THIS CHALLENGE?

A) You have a few options:

1. Sign up using the MR.LINKY, and make sure your link is to your official list!


2. Sign up using the MR.LINKY with just your name
   (if you don't blog).

Also, you can...
** Sign up for the Yahoo! Group (in ADDITION to signing up on the MR.LINKY, please)

And, last but not least...
** Start reading books from your list on January 1st, 2008!!!

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2007 Challenge - Now CLOSED!

I've had several requests from people wanting to still get in on the 2007 TBR Challenge. So, I thought I'd just post and let everyone know...

THE 2007 TBR Challenge IS NOW CLOSED!

My deepest apologies but, since there are prizes, the group decided that it was only fair to restrict membership after January 31st, as most of our members are already well into their year's reading.

BUT, there is good news!

I will be re-opening the membership as of DECEMBER 15, 2007, because we will go another round next year! So, be sure to come back in December, and sign up for the 2008 TBR CHALLENGE!!! :D

Thanks so much for your understanding!

Last Chance! (for 2007)

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY
if you want to SIGN UP for the
2007 TBR CHALLENGE!

Join by:

* leaving me a comment
* Emailing me
OR...
* Joining the Yahoo! group

** Make sure you leave me a LINK to your LIST of 12 BOOKS! **
(if you join the Yahoo! group, please put your list in the Files section *today*!)



Happy Reading!

The Yahoo! Group

I have decided to create a Yahoo group for the 2007 TBR Challenge, and here are my reasons...

I figured that...
A) this would solve the problem of those who don't blog but want to participate

B) this would help me organize the lists of people's books (as there's a prize every 3 months!)

C) those who want to chat about their progress can do so without hunting down all of the other participant's blogs!

2007 TBR Challenge PARTICIPANTS

Yay! I'm thrilled! My TBR Challenge List of Participants is growing by leaps & bounds! Thank you to all who've said they'll join me!

Here is the current list:

Debi ~*~ Booklogged ~*~ Suziqoregon ~*~ Lotus Reads ~*~ Les ~*~ Framed ~*~ Cathleen ~*~ Jacki C. ~*~ Wendy ~*~ Kirsty ~*~ smtwngrl15 ~*~ Nessie ~*~ Sheri ~*~ Kris ~*~ Nancy ~*~ Lisa ~*~ Joy ~*~ Camille ~*~ Colleen ~*~ Lazy Cow ~*~ HollyDolly ~*~ Kucki ~*~ Kailana ~*~ Amy ~*~ Miss T ~*~ Kristen ~*~ Diamond ~*~ Nancy (NJ) ~*~ Diane D ~*~ Christine ~*~ Pattie ~*~ Kathrin ~*~ Waterfall Nymph ~*~ Sue L. ~*~ Kat ~*~ Dana ~*~ Janet ~*~ Country Girl ~*~ bookwormaddict ~*~ Carrie K ~*~ Calexxia ~*~ Michelle ~*~ Brandie ~*~ Debbie ~*~ KristinsDottir ~*~ Lindsey ~*~ Christina ~*~ Katy ~*~ Rebecca ~*~ Molly ~*~ Sally906 ~*~ Laura ~*~ Shilo ~*~ Sharon ~*~ Michelle S ~*~ Jenny Up the Hill ~*~ Wendy ~*~ Nyssaneala ~*~ Courtney ~*~ Kathryn G ~*~ Marce ~*~ Carrie ~*~ Marcia ~*~ Michelle #3 ~*~ Rose ~*~ Yvonne ~*~ Sue B ~*~ Christen ~*~ Ronda ~*~ Carolyn ~*~ Barbara (PA) ~*~ Kate ~*~ Lynne ~*~ Stephanie ~*~ Misty ~*~ dogfaeriex5 ~*~ Donna ~*~ Vicky ~*~ Sarala ~*~ Kim ~*~ Cerwin ~*~ Kelsey ~*~ Dana ~*~ Kay ~*~ Terri ~*~ Leann ~*~ Ornamentea ~*~ Joyce ~*~ Lisa L ~*~ Alisia ~*~ Frank ~*~ Audrey ~*~ Cess ~*~ Milan-zzz ~*~ Steve ~*~ Lisa ~*~ Polly ~*~ Teddy ~*~ Kuanyin ~*~ Jenny ~*~ Bookish Lore ~*~ Beth ~*~ Aarti ~*~ Britne ~*~ Debby ~*~ Emily ~*~ Helena ~*~ Hilary ~*~ Nan ~*~ Niko ~*~ OneWritingMama ~*~ Karen K ~*~ Puanani ~*~ Stephanie2 ~*~ Christina ~*~ Natalie ~*~ Evaberry ~*~ Andy ~*~ Pam ~*~ BookmanOS ~*~ Gatekeeper ~*~ Amy ~*~ CountryGoalie ~*~ Suzann ~*~ Suey ~*~ Sarra ~*~ Kristi ~*~ Anne ~*~ Megan ~*~ Jenni ~*~ CoversGirl ~*~ newgenny ~*~ Zonnell ~*~ Mona ~*~ Danielle ~*~ Acquisitionist ~*~ Becky ~*~ AvailableOnRequest ~*~ Racquel ~*~ Melanie ~*~ Martha ~*~ Mrs. R ~*~ Angela ~*~ Bets ~*~ Amy ~*~ Michelle ~*~ Chris ~*~ Shoshana ~*~ Lindsey ~*~ Beatrice ~*~ Enid ~*~ CherryTree ~*~ verniciousknids ~*~ Kathrin P ~*~ Jodie ~*~ Katica ~*~ Outi ~*~ Sarah (Houston) ~*~ Zookeeper ~*~ Donyale ~*~ Diane ~*~ Cheryl ~*~ Irenic_ca ~*~ Kim ~*~ Lisa ~*~ Shari ~*~ Poodlerat ~*~ Rosangela ~*~ Lorette ~*~ Alison ~*~ Jenny ~*~ Rosmarins ~*~ StephanieRBM ~*~ Patti ~*~ SilverThistle ~*~ TeaReads ~*~ DJ ~*~ Chris ~*~ Thursday ~*~ VioletKey ~*~ TheDuckThief ~*~ MartiniKnits ~*~ Judy ...and... Nancy.

NOTE: Deadline for putting your list of books on
your blog is ***JANUARY 31st, 2007***...
(just 'cause everyone keeps asking! LOL).
Thanks!

*** Please Note that this deadline changed to accomodate the cut-off date for joining in on the challenge! Thanks! ***

JOIN the new TBR_Challenge group!

I Challenge You!

Since I've just been LOVING all of the Blogger book-challenges, I've decided to create my own based off a desire I've long had... and I'm sure fellow book-loving Bloggers share!

IT'S A TBR CHALLENGE!


For this challenge you should....

** Pick 12 books - one for each month of 2007 - that you've been wanting to read (have been on your "To Be Read" list) for 6 months or longer, but haven't gotten around to.

** Then, starting January 1, 2007, read one of these books from your list each month, ending December 31, 2007. :o)

By the end of the year you should've knocked 12 books off of your TBR list! (of course, if you're anything like me, you'll have added *at LEAST* 12 more to the ever-growing pile by then! LOL).

The good news is, though, that you'll be making some progress! ;o)

And, to spice things up a bit, here's my incentive:
Every 3 months, for the duration of the challenge, I will pick one challenge participant's name from a "hat". That person --if they've read the amount of books for that time (ie: 3 books in 3 months; 6 books in 6 months, etc)-- will receive a small gift (via snail-mail) from me. ;-)

Are you up for the challenge? Leave your name and a link to your blog!


MY TBR in 2007 LIST:

1. Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone (#1) - J.K. Rowling (done: Nov.28/07)


2. Passage - Connie Willis (done: Sept.11/07)


3. Middlemarch - George Eliot (done: Feb.6/07)


4. The Wise Woman - Christian Jacq


5. The Surgeon - Tess Gerritsen (done: Apr.9/07)


6. Premonition - Randall Ingermanson


7. Shadow Baby - Ami McGhee


8. Envy - Sandra Brown (done: Jun.21/07)


9. Bethesda: A Novel - Paul A. Nigro


10. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde (done: Nov.18/07)


11. Deja Dead - Kathy Reichs


12. The Tea Rose - Jennifer Donnelly

For EXTRA CREDIT:

• Messy Spirituality - Mike Yaconelli


• How to Be Good - Nick Hornby


• Flabbergasted - Ray Blackston


• The Rule of Four - Caldwell/Thomason


• Deep In the Valley - Robyn Carr


• Dying Declaration - Randy Singer


• Double Vision - Randall Ingermanson


• The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith


• If I Had You - Deborah Bedford


• Her Daughter's Eyes - Jessica Barksdale Inclan


• The Codex - Douglas Preston


• Peace Like a River - Leif Enger


• Preparing Your Son for Every Man's Battle - Stephen Arterburn

NOTE: I've created a Yahoo group for those that want to participate via a list. It might be easier to keep track of who's read what that way... Join me? :o)



Click to join tbr_challenge


*** SEE the most recent UPDATE: Click here ***

As of Jan.31/07:
MEMBERSHIP IS NOW CLOSED
until December 2007!
THANK YOU!

Welcome!

Welcome to the brand-new home of the TBR Challenge! This same challenge used to be located on the Literary Cache blog, hosted by Mizbooks, but that blog had to go to "invited readers only" status due to circumstances beyond Mizbooks' control. :-?

Glad to have you join us! And, stay tuned for more! :o)