Saturday, December 10, 2016

25 Books I'm Committing to Read for the 2017 Backlist Reader Challenge


I don't participate in a whole heck of a lot of bookish challenges, but Lark at The Bookwyrm's Hoard is hosting the perfect one for me, right in line with what I was already thinking for the new year. It's the Backlist Reader Challenge and it focuses on knocking out pre-2016 releases already on our to-read lists. I read tons of new releases in 2016 and really neglected my backlist reading, which I always vow to catch up on with varying degrees of success. Hopefully Lark's challenge will keep me focused in the new year!

Below are 25 books I am determined to finally read this year. The top 15 are left over from my list of 25 must-read-in-2016 books (obviously I didn't do too well) and the 10 below the line are new additions for 2017. Many of them have been on my to-read list for ages, but a couple -- like "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet" and "A Man Called Ove" are more recent discoveries.

I hope to re-visit this post this time next year and be able to pat myself on the back because I've read all these wonderful books. (And if that's the case I'll probably have had a stellar reading year because most of these are sure 4- and 5-star reads! Fingers crossed!)

backlist challenge collage

16 comments:

  1. This sounds like a really fun challenge! I've been looking for some to participate in. I might have to do this one. All those books look amazing! I just bought The Queen of Tearling. I hope to read it soon. Good luck with the challenge!

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    1. I'm so excited for it -- I hope it helps me knock out all these books I've been meaning to read for ages!

      I've been on a fantasy kick this year and I'm looking forward to starting the "Tearling" trilogy. Plus the timing is good, since the last book comes out this year and I can read them without the wait time.

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  2. I hav to look into this challenge!You have some great books listed. Tell the Wolves I'm Home is an all time favorite for me. The Nightingale was wonderful too. I have had Redeployment and Life After Life on my list forever. Good luck!

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    1. Good to know! My TBTB Secret Santa gave me "The Nightingale" and I'm looking forward to that one. I hated the only other Kristin Hannah book I read (as an Air Force spouse I had problems with the way she portrayed the military) but I'm expecting to love this one! I'm a huge fan of WWII fiction.

      (Confession: My TBTB Secret Santa LAST YEAR got me "Life After Life" and I STILL haven't read it! *Hangs head.*)

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  3. The Nightingale (one of 2016 favourites) and A Man Called Ove (a gem, memorable) are really good, highly recommend.

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    1. I'm planning to save "A Man Called Ove" for when I need a feel-good book. It seems like people find it to be very charming and positive!

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  4. Good luck! I am also going to try and read more off my TBR pile next year.

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    1. Thanks -- and good luck to you! Reading older books is so much tougher than it sounds. Between working at a library and book blogging, I'm always drawn to new releases. But I know I'm missing out on so many good books by neglecting my backlist TBR!

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  5. Good luck with this, I think this is one of 2 new challenges I will be doing this year - along with the same ones from last year!

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    1. I'm excited to participate, and to follow along with the other bloggers who join (though, in a way, that's a danger all its own -- I'm sure I'll end up adding to my TBR!). This is probably the only challenge I'm going to do this year. Between these 25 books, my unread ARCs, and all the 2016 releases I didn't get to, I feel like my 2017 reading list is already decided!

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  6. Oh my gosh, Americanah and The Winter Sea and Wool and Tell the Wolves I'm Home are all SO GOOD!

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    1. Good to hear! I fully expect to love them all. "The Winter Sea" in particular is one I've been meaning to get to for ages -- I distinctly recall writing that on a slip of paper before I started using Goodreads!

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  7. Americanah made me want to read all books of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie!
    Love your snow flakes by the way!

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    1. I think the same thing is going to happen to me! I'm constantly seeing praise for "We Should All Be Feminists" so that'll probably be my next book by her.

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  8. Ooh, you have some fantastic books on here! 84 Charing Cross Road is one of my all time favorites. I also liked The Golem and the Jinni, The Eyre Affair, Life After Life, and One Summer. Good luck with your challenge!

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  9. You have so many good reads ahead of you! I particularly love Wool and 84, Charing Cross Road. Good luck with the challenge :)

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