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31 Mar 2015

IT'S A 2015 'TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR TBR PILE' CHALLENGE WRAP.

A so-so challenge as far as my choice of books went but then anything that encourages the lowering of our TBR piles has to be a good thing, right? I'd like to thank Kimberly over at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer for all the hard work she must have put into the planning and hosting of such an event.

 Like the 2012 Take Control Of Your TBR Pile challenge I've managed eight books. Not too bad but it certainly didn't make much of a dint in a pile that is taller than I am and given that I now have such a backlog of books received for review which I need to read will doubtlessly be just as big (if not bigger) come the end of April.

 As I said a so-so challenge in that the books I chose could have been better in that only one received a star rating of five, two a four star and another a three star. Whilst out of the other five one was given a two star, the remaining three a mere one star.

LAMENTATION:  (Second book read) What my granddad would describe as a rollicking good read. *****


MENAGERIE MANOR: (First book read) Whilst for me this doesn't begin to compare with his earliest books it is still full of wit and a wonderful attention to detail. ****


PRIVATE LONDON: (Fifth book read) Whilst not a work of literary genius nevertheless it is a highly readable, page turner of a novel. ****


 TOUGH TIMES & GRISLY CRIMES: A HISTORY OF CRIME IN NORTHUMBERLAND AND COUNTY DURHAM: (Sixth book read) a fascinating insight, some wonderful facts and figures but the editing could be vastly improved. ***



TOM'S MIDNIGHT GARDEN: (Eighth book read) Compared to some of my childhood favourites written at around about the same time (or even earlier) I'm afraid I found this to be one of those books that hadn't stood the test of time very well. **

book cover of The Point of Rescue

THE POINT OF RESCUE: (Third book read) Unconvincing characters and a plot that falls the wrong side of plausible. *


A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES: (Fourth book read)
Reading at times like a spoof supernatural movie, essentially just another vampire romance albeit one masquerading as a more intelligent read for 'grown-up'. *


MERCY: (Seventh book read) Expecting to find Jodi Picoult at her thought provoking best, Mercy a real ethical dilemma of a read, I was bitterly disappointed to find that the premeditated murder/mercy killing aspect was very much a secondary consideration. *


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14 comments:

  1. Suko31 March 2015 at 17:30

    Wow! You powered through this reading challenge. Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts about each.

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  2. Kelly31 March 2015 at 19:05

    Congratulations on completing your challenge. I'm sorry that so many of your choices weren't very good, but at least you can now say they aren't sitting in the pile waiting to be read!

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  3. Sherry Ellis31 March 2015 at 19:06

    I think I'd like to read Tough Times and Grisly Crimes. Nice job getting through all those books!

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  4. Literary Feline31 March 2015 at 22:05

    Congratulations on completing the challenge! It's too bad you didn't enjoy more of the books, but it does sound like you got some good ones out of it.

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  5. New Release Books1 April 2015 at 05:36

    Great on completing the challenge and thanks for sharing your views!

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  6. Brian Joseph1 April 2015 at 10:15

    Congratulations on whittling down your TBR and completing the challenge.

    My TBR seems to be destined to grow faster then it will ever shrink.

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  7. Booth5551 April 2015 at 12:17

    I love how you say your Grandad would've described the one Rocklicking good!
    lol

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  8. Camila Rafaela Felippi1 April 2015 at 18:41

    I'm really happy u complete your challenge! You're a very organized people (:

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  9. Nikki - Notes of Life1 April 2015 at 19:36

    I desperately need to take control of my TBR pile! :)

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  10. Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews1 April 2015 at 20:37

    Hi Tracy,

    It just goes to show how much of our respective TBR piles, really doesn't need to be there. I am certain that if I was a bit more selective, I could reduce the shelves quite substantially, then I would only need a couple of lifetimes to get through the rest!!

    Congratulations on getting through your challenge relatively unscathed, although I have to say that I was surprised that the Sophie Hannah book only achieved a single star from you, her books are generally much better than that.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts with those honest ratings and reviews ... I wonder what's next? :)

    Yvonne

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  11. Melissa (Books and Things)1 April 2015 at 21:44

    You did well. I need to start the Harkness witch books. I have the first... :)

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  12. Stephanie Faris2 April 2015 at 01:11

    A Discovery of Witches sounded like one I might like...at first. Sounds like it just disappoints, though.

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  13. Alexia5613 April 2015 at 01:52

    Well done on finishing 8 books from your TBR pile for the challenge! I only managed 4, but really enjoyed how relaxing it was to read for pleasure again. Would love to do this again down the road!

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  14. Yanting Gueh3 April 2015 at 05:59

    I haven't heard of these books except for Tom's Midnight Garden (which I want to read). Sorry you didn't enjoy it that much.

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Ah wish te thank each an everyone of yee fre yer keind words. It's canny te see yee an ah hope you'll visit agyen. Divvent leave it tee long, will ye?