Saturday 4 April 2015

Mount TBR checkpoint #1

We're now a quarter of the way into 2015 so it's time for checkpoint #1 for Bev's Mount TBR challenge.


Bev asks participants to answer some questions.

1. Tell us how many miles you've made it up your mountain (# of books read). If you're really ambitious, you can do some intricate math and figure out how the number of books you've read correlates to actual miles up Pike's Peak, Mt. Ararat, etc. And feel free to tell us about any particularly exciting adventures you've had along the way.

My aim is to climb Mon Blanc and that involves reading 24 of my own books this year. So far I've read 9 which means I'm three quarters of the way to the top of Pike's Peak (12 books). I'm also ahead of where I should be which is a nice cushion to have. It could be that I end up climbing higher than Mont Blanc but I've no intention of actually pushing myself to do it, if that's the way it ends up - fine. If not, no problem.

2. Complete ONE (or more if you like) of the following:
A. Post a picture of your favorite cover so far.
B. Who has been your favorite character so far? And tell us why, if you like.
C. Have any of the books you read surprised you--if so, in what way (not as good as anticipated? unexpected ending? Best thing you've read ever? Etc.)
D. Which book (read so far) has been on your TBR mountain the longest? Was it worth the wait? Or is it possible you should have tackled it back when you first put it on the pile? Or tossed it off the edge without reading it all


2A: My favourite cover so far is this:


The cover of Helliconia Winter by Brian W. Aldiss shows a scene from the book with a 'Phagor' in the foreground watching some ships carrying humans who are on the run from the authorities and looking for somewhere to land and resupply the ships. I love the wintery, snowy mountain scenery and the depiction of the strange unknown statue. The cover art is by Tim Gill.

2B: My favourite character so far has been Mrs. Ross from The Tenderness of Wolves. Her life is far from perfect already with a husband who is uncommunicative and surly and a son who is alienated from her. Then the son is suspected of murder and disappears off into the Canadian wilderness of Ontario. Despite the fact that Mrs. Ross is terrified of wilderness, off she goes in search of him with a complete stranger, enduring incredible hardship. You have a to admire a woman like that, brave, indomitable and devoted to her son. They were a tough lot back then.

~~~oOo~~~

9 comments:

DesLily said...

interesting cover.. for some reason I thought you might say the cover of the last fantasy book.. the fairy on the crow.

considering it's only April I think you will finish this challenge early! (does it count when we get more books than we read and so tbr is still growing? lol)

Cath said...

Pat: Blackbringer was a library book so didn't qualify for the challenge Unfortunately. Otherwise, yes, I would've chosen that cover.

Yeah, I'm well ahead with the challenge... despite the fact that, yep, I've probably bought as many new ones as I've read. LOL!

TracyK said...

Serendipitously, I was interested in The Tenderness of Wolves. I have already commented on your review post on that book, but I missed it when you first posted it.

Val said...

Gosh your reading puts mine to shame Cath and you write such really useful reviews too.... Thank you!

BooksPlease said...

Great to be ahead of your target! The Tenderness of Wolves is moving up my list now.

Cath said...

Tracy: It's so easy to miss posts I find.

Val: Well, you have a young family and a busy life. I didn't manage to read much when my daughters were small. I'm so glad you find my reviews useful That makes me smile.

Margaret: Yes, I'm very happy with being three books ahead. Glad to hear about The Tenderness of Wolves.

Val said...

A site for you to explore (you may know it already...but just in case)
:0)

http://girlebooks.com/ebook-catalog/isabella-l-bird/a-ladys-life-in-the-rocky-mountains/

Penny O'Neill said...

That is an interesting cover, Cath. I did like the one from your last post I think it was called Blackbringer?

Cath said...

Val: Thank you! We've had our grand-daughter here all week so no time to do much online but as soon as I have a moment I'll check that out.

Penny: Yes, Blackbringer. If it hadn't been a library book and thus didn't qualify for the challenge, it would have won hands down.