sjmccreary realizes that if you're going to buy the books, you need to read them

My first year for an off the shelf challenge. Until a year or so ago, I didn't even own very many books. Thanks to LT, I have recently installed a new bookcase and have already nearly filled it. So now, I need to start reading off my own shelf in addition to those from the library. Starting slow, my goal is to average about 1 per month. My target range is 10-15 for the year.

No commitments, but here is a list of books I expect/plan/hope to read off my shelf in 2012:

1. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
2. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
3. The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin
4. Maps of Time by David Christian
5. The Leopard by Giuseppe Di Lampedusa
6. Independent People by Halldor Laxness
7. Reading the Old Testament by Lawrence Boadt
8. Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
9. The March by E L Doctorow

Not quite enough to reach my goal, but someplace to start.

Here are the off-the-shelf books I finished in 2012:
1. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

Welcome aboard, and best of luck!

Yes - LT can have that effect on your reading material. Welcome to the group. I think a couple of your possibilities are on my shelf too.

Welcome, and good luck to you!

Coincidence! Reading the Old Testament is on my TBR list, too. I'm not sure if I'll get around to it this year, but one year, certainly...

I'd be interested to know what you think, if you do start / finish it yourself.

Ivy.

Thanks for the welcome. I've already identified another book that I may try to read in 2012: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig. That makes 8. Getting closer.

#6 Ivy, I've already started Reading the Old Testament, but have stalled out in recent weeks (months). I hope to pick it back up and finish it in 2012. I might be 1/3 the way through it. Maybe less. So far, I'm enjoying it very much.

That's very promising! Thanks for letting me know, sjmccreary. I feel more positive about starting it now.

Oh, don't feel hesitant about starting that book - it is very easy reading in the beginning, and only gradually gets more involved.

I think it's the length more than anything. It's a lot easier - well, more motivating - to knock ten tiny books off the TBR list than one huge one. :-)

The Pink Carnation Series is a lot fun, but its a little fluffy. I've read them all and really enjoy them but I think of them as guilty pleasure reads.

#10 I hear you there!
#11 That's good - since my list is currently leaning towards "dense"!

Sandy,

I have 2 left on the Pink Carnation series...some are better than others but definitely light and entertaining. It was my series of 2011 - reading nearly the entire series throughout the year. It was my first book of 2011 and I was trying to have Orchid Affair as my last of 2011 but didn't get it finished.

Hi Sandy, welcome to the challenge and good luck!

Sandy, good luck! You can do it, baby!

Sandy...I'm so glad to see someone else setting a low realistic goal for the shameless shelves! I too am going to aim for one a month. And I'm NOT going to keep track of +/- either. Books are our friends. And since I don't spend $$ on booze or drugs, I'm going to spend it on something I like.

I'll be keeping an eye out to see how you're doing.

#13 You are largely responsible for me having bought the book in the first place!

#14-15 Thanks!

#16 It's good to know someone will be keeping an eye out for me!

Hi, Sandy! Good to see you over here, too.

Finished The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett yesterday. The first off-the-shelf book of the year.

Sandy, I must say, every time I see the title of your thread here, it makes me smile. :)

Have you picked a next off-the-shelf read? I see that Doctorow's The March is one of the books you plan to read sometime this year. I'm thinking of reading it this month for the 12 in 12 category challenge's "montly" sub challenge -- The March in the month of March. I also see Wolf Hall on your list. I'm planning to read that in June as part of the 12 in 12 group read. (Wolf Hall will actually be an off-the shelf read for me; The March won't, but the library has it.)

Whatever you pull of the shelf next, I hope you enjoy it!

Terri, I'm hoping to read The March for the monthly challenge, and Wolf Hall for the June group read. It will take some outside prodding for me to get moving on some of these books, I think.

I seem to have forgotten about this group. In fact, I seem to have forgotten all those books I own since I've only managed to read 2 more of them since my last post.

The March by E L Doctorow
Life of Pi by Yan Martel

both read during the summer - both winners! But a total of 3 books is far short of my 10-15 books goal that I set back in January. :-(

I see that plans are already being made for 2013 and, being the eternal optimist, will try again next year.

What did you think of The March, Sandy? It's one I'm thinking of reading (though from the library; it's not on my shelf . . .)

I really liked it, but it was slow going. I doubt I would have finished it if I'd been reading a library copy. OTOH, I tend to read library books more quickly, since they are due back. I'd definitely recommend giving it a try.