Beat The Backlist is back and better than ever.
This is the reading challenge, hosted by Novelknight, that focuses on knocking off the titles that have been slow-cookin’ on your TBR. The rules are simple – read a book that was published prior to 2018, in 2018.
Easy enough, right?
I apparently don’t have enough stressors in my life or ulcers in my stomach that I choose to take this further and will read the books that I placed on my TBR prior to 2016. This is not a condition of the challenge – this is just me because #ImissMyAgita. I’m also trying to read more tomes this coming year so there will be fewer books in my challenges.
I enjoyed doing this challenge this year and it was the only one I took seriously. I started in March and managed to read over 60 titles from my TBR. An update is coming at the end of the year.
These are some of the titles I hope to read to Beat the Backlist – the full list is here on goodreads.
Even More Titles I Hope To Read
“No, I haven’t read Neverwhere. Don’t judge me :)”
Never even heard of this one before, but it’s one I should really do. Will need to go and have a good think about what I want to read before signing up, but I’m looking forward to it!
If I am not mistaken this will be only the 2nd year that Austine is hosting this challenge. This is the only challenge I have taken seriously and been productive in due to its simplicity and that fact that there is no pressure. You decide what books you want to knock off your TBR, keep track on them on GR or your blog, sign up with the url to your list and come January 1st, start reading as much or as little as you want.
Welcome aboard!
Impressive! I’m opting out of challenges this year. I only set myself up for failure. Lol! You’ve got some great titles in there. Very ambitious with Anna Karenina. 😉 The last time I invested that much time on a book I was disappointed but I feel like an imposter calling myself a reader and not having read Anna Karenina. (Or War and Peace. Or Anne of Green Gables. The list goes on and on…)
Thank you. I know what you mean. I usually keep my goodreads challenge at a manageable number (this year and probably next @ 77) but it’s the side challenges – choosing books based on the cover, using the alphabet, number of pages or my favorite, classics – that get me in trouble and cause me stress. Stress or reducing reading to a chore is something I don’t need or want. Thanks again. Anna Karenina has been on my TBR since March 06, 2015 and I’ve owned a copy since April of this year. I have 8 books over 800 pages each so I’ll try and read at least 1 a month. Last year I had over 128 titles in this challenge and it did get a little tense around here 🙂 This year I have a total of 36 for this challenge and keeping goodreads at or below 77 will keep my agita away. I’m surprised you’d say that about not reading AK because I’ve never gotten the vibe that this was required reading or Anne of Green Gables. I have felt that with War and Peace and Moby Dick (which I was surprised to read some hate for on GR) Now, I have heard people challenge avid readers to give Infinite Jest a go. That one’s been on my TBR for over a year also 🙂
Hello, fellow Novel Knight! Nice TBR. Don’t worry, I haven’t read Neverwhere either, no judgments.
You can check my TBR here too: https://thereadersbay.wordpress.com/2017/12/05/beat-the-blacklist-2018-challenge/
Hi and thanks for not judging 🙂
Will do.
Looks like a fun challenge! I’m joining one that is similar, it’s 12 books in one year prior to 2017 (like your choosing to do). It’s perfect for me because I really wanted to clear out some of my backlist.
You have a great mix of genres and books here! Good luck and happy reading 🙂
This was fun this year and with the changes Austine made for 2018, I believe it’ll be funner 😛 That’s why I love this challenge, it helps keep me focused on showing love to the titles on the backlist. Thank you, Tina and Good Luck with your challenge!
I just signed up for Beat the Backlist and I’m on the same team!! Go Novel Knights!!! I wish you the best of luck with your tbr!! You got this!!
Beat the Backlist Sign up Post and TBR
Thank you, Jessica. I checked your BTB TBR – nice. I read and loved Crooked Kingdom. Good Luck!
So, looking at the challenge shelf, some commentary if I may 🙂
* Crime and Punishment I remember liking quite a lot. It’s been a while since I read it but gave it 4 stars.
* The Idiot by Dostoyevsky… this book and me didn’t get along at all… I was so bored out of my head… oops!
* ooooh! you have Prince of Thorns on your shelf.. Lovely! This book and the whole trilogy I devoured! Loved everything about this series!
* The Kite Runner… my, that’s a brilliant book with a lot of punch!
I can’t wait for 2018 now just to start reading your thoughts on these titles! 🙂 I hope you like all of them!
Please do 🙂
Thank you for the commentary. Knowing you’re waiting to read my thoughts has added more pressure than the challenge 🙂 Thanks, Liz.
Hahaha, oops.. sorry, no pressure meant! 🙂
Go Novel Knights! Thanks for signing up again and so glad you’re excited to read more backlist books!! Good luck and happy reading!
Thank you, Austine for bringing it back and what you do behind the scenes. I’m grateful that this challenge keeps me focused on those titles gathering dust. Right back atcha 🙂
I plan to sign up soon, since I loved participating this past year. Good luck with those backlist books!
Thank you, Alyssa and Good luck to you too 🙂
Go team Novel Knights! There are a lot of great books on your list! I just signed up to, and posted my grandiose plans at: https://greeniezona.wordpress.com/2018/01/01/beat-the-backlist-2018-challenge/
Thanks and welcome to the challenge. As for your grandiose plans, I’m good with reading 100 books, but the other two are lost causes. Try as I may, I never manage to fit in more than a handful of non-fiction books a year. In 2017, a grand total of 4 🙁
Good luck!
Oooo! This is such a good idea. I loved Orphan Train (I first listened to it on audio, which was a great experience). I may have to join this…
This is a good idea and you should join 🙂 I’m looking forward to reading Orphan Train this year. I’ve put it off long enough.
If it’s any comfort, I’ve never read “Neverwhere” either. This sounds like a great challenge and I hope it is going well at the moment 🙂