So, great news for my reading goal last year: I read 110 books which blew my goal of 52 books on Goodreads out of the water! The less than great news: only a whopping 9 of those were physical books from my #beatthebacklist2022 goal list. Still, considering some outside forces that kept my brain power and focus at the lowest levels they've been in a VERY long time, I feel OK about that. Rereading (which was honestly the bulk of my reading this year) still counts for me, and bonus it was comforting in a way I really needed. So I am not going to be too down on myself for that.
Really, this challenge is less about achievement as such for me, and more about encouragement and progress. I enjoy tracking which books I've read and filling out the bingo card I get from the official challenge page (Over here if you want to join in the reading game! https://austinedecker.com/beat-the-backlist/ ), and even if I don't hit many on my goal list, it's still a step in the right direction AND helps me remember that some of these books exist buried as they are on my TBR Mountain lolsob. (No, seriously tho - after purging 32 books from my shelves this morning as a "clearing out some space for 2023" exercise, I STILL have 101 unread books sitting on my shelves. My book hoarding habit continues apace, I guess!)
Anyway! I was amused to realize today while looking back through old blog posts that I've participated in this challenge for 5 years now, and I definitely plan to continue to do so as long as our host keeps posting about it and creating the bingo cards! Are there any reading challenges y'all find yourselves coming back to year after year? Drop me a comment and I'll check them out!
And now, without further ado: the 2023 Bingo Card and my current (tentative) list of goal books from the physical TBR!
Physical TBR Mountain Goal List for #BeattheBacklist2023
1.SWEEP OF THE HEART - 1/01/23 - "a character is lost royalty"
2.THE MERMAID'S VOICE RETURNS IN THIS ONE - 1/14/23 - "free space"
3.THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY - 1/27/23 - "less than 170 pages"
4.NIGHTWORK - 3/28/23 - "standalone"
5.LADY OF QUALITY - 3/30/23 - "all the romance"
6.VAMPIRES NEVER GET OLD - 4/20/23 - "here there be monsters"
7.THE CITY WE BECAME - 5/12/23 - "multiple points of view"
8.OVER THE WOODWARD WALL - 5/17/23 - "an author writing under a pseudonym"
9.SEASONAL FEARS - 5/29/23 - "protagonist name starts with "M""
10.THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA - 8/12/23 - "character is keeping a big secret"
11.THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING - 9/12/23 - "first in a trilogy"
12.THAT WAY MADNESS LIES - 9/26/23 - "epistolary or unusual writing style"
13.RETRIBUTION RAILS - 10/05/23 - "set on or involving a train"
14.WINTER TIDE - 10/16/23 - "takes place primarily in winter or a cold region"
15.LAUGHTER AT THE ACADEMY - 10/19/23 - "your favorite genre"
16.THE TWO TOWERS - 10/20/23 - "featuring travel (time optional)"
17.FEED - 10/24/23 - "horses. that's the prompt."
18.THE RETURN OF THE KING - 11/27/23 - "five word title"
19.JURASSIC PARK - 11/28/23 - "released at least 23 years ago"
20.THE INHERITANCE OF ORQUIDEA DIVINA
21.ONCE & FUTURE
22.THE BELLES
23.LAKESEDGE
24.THE PASSAGE
25.LOVE AND OTHER GREAT EXPECTATIONS
26.TRUTHWITCH
27.THE DISASTERS
28.A HISTORY OF WILD PLACES
29.THE QUEENS OF INNIS LEAR
30.THE ONES WE'RE MEANT TO FIND
31.THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES
32.AETHERBOUND
33.ASH
34.CIRCE
35.UPROOTED
36.THE SANDCASTLE EMPIRE
37.THE GRIMROSE GIRLS
38.THE PRINCESS AND THE SCOUNDREL
39.A RUSH OF WINGS
40.GHOSTWOOD SONG
41.ARE YOU LISTENING?
42.REBELWING
43.THE BOOK OF COLD CASES
44.DARK AND SHALLOW LIES
45.THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE
46.THE STARLESS SEA
47.THE REST OF US JUST LIVE HERE
48.THISTLEFOOT
49.FIENDISH
50.THE WITCHES OF NEW YORK
51.FIRE AND HEIST
52.MIRANDA AND CALIBAN
53.THE SECRET INGREDIENT OF WISHES
54.DEVILS UNTO DUST
55.HAMLET - MANGA CLASSICS
56.COLD THE NIGHT, FAST THE WOLVES
57.OUT NOW
58.FORESHADOW
As always, I know I’ll end up reading new releases or new backlist books I get or reread or well… Let’s just say this list tends to be all over the place when compared to the “official” goal TBR above. But hey, it still counts as reading. I just don’t get to use my handy Bingo card for these. LOL
Bonus Books 2023
2.1.MAGIC TIDES - 1/20/23 - eBook - First Read 2023 Release
3.1.BACKPACKING THROUGH BEDLAM - 3/26/23 - eBook - First Read 2023 Release
7.1.MIDDLEGAME - 5/15/23 - Audiobook & eBook - Re-Read of Backlist Title
8.1.DEAR WRITER YOU NEED TO QUIT - 5/18/23 - Audiobook & eBook - First Read of Non-Physical Backlist Title
8.2.HOW TO KEEP HOUSE WHILE DROWNING - 5/19/23 - Audiobook - First Read of Non-Physical Backlist Title
9.1.MAGIC CLAIMS - 6/15/23 - eBook - First Read 2023 Release
10.1. ON THE EDGE - 8/21/23 - Audiobook - Re-Read of Backlist Title
10.2. BAYOU MOON - 8/24/23 - Audiobook - Re-Read of Backlist Title
10.3. FATE'S EDGE - 8/29/23 - Audiobook - Re-Read of Backlist Title
10.4. HOW TO KEEP HOUSE WHILE DROWNING - 9/4/23 - Audiobook - Reread of Non-Physical Backlist Title
11.1. STEEL'S EDGE - 9/14/23 - Audiobook - Re-Read of Backlist Title
12.1.MAPLECROFT - 10/02/23 - Audiobook - First Read of Non-Physical Backlist Title
12.2.CHAPELWOOD - 10/04/23 - Audiobook - First Read of Non-Physical Backlist Title
13.1. THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY - 10/13/23 - Audiobook - Re-Read of Backlist Title
14.1.THE LITURGY OF EARTH - 10/17/23 - eBook - First Read of Non-Physical Backlist Title
14.2.DEEP ROOTS - 10/17/23 - Audiobook & eBook - First Read of Non-Physical Backlist Title
16.1.IN THE SHADOW OF SPINDRIFT HOUSE - 10/20/23 - eBook - Re-Read of Backlist Title
16.2.THE TWISTED ONES - 10/23/23 - Audiobook - First Read of Non-Physical Backlist Title
12.1.MANNERS AND MONSTERS - 10/30/23 - AudiobooK - First Read of Non-Physical Backlist Title