Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Planning Ahead: My TBR Dare Reading List


This is officially a freebie week for Top Ten Tuesday and I'm using the opportunity to plan my reading for the next couple of months. The TBR Triple Dog Dare is in full swing, so that means I'm reading from my shelf and from my kindle - no new books and no library books. (The library is actually the bigger temptation here in FL - our local branch is amazing!) I don't have many print books here so my shelf is somewhat limited, but my kindle more than makes up for that.

Here is the current list. As always, it may very well change tomorrow...

Reading Commitments

What Maisie Knew by Henry James 
February readalong


Jezebel's Daughter by Wilkie Collins 
review copy from Oxford World's Classics


Death with an Ocean View by Noreen Wald 
from NetGalley


On My Shelf

The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar


Them  by Joyce Carol Oates


The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro


On My Kindle
... and most likely to change tomorrow


by Kate Andersen Brower


All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews


Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie




Have you read any of these books? I'll revisit this list in the spring to see where things stand. Wish me luck!

44 comments:

  1. I agree, the library is my biggest temptation! I hope you enjoy your picks, I haven't read any of them yet. Happy reading!

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    1. Diana - The library is full of temptation... especially the wonderful local library here in FL. I visited yesterday, but managed to check out just a cookbook and a couple movies.

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  2. You have some delicious reading ahead!

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    1. Thanks, Mary. I'm pretty excited about this list.

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  3. I read The Residence last year and it was definitely on my Top Ten for 2015. I found it fascinating. Henry James and Wilkie Collins are 2 authors I'm really hoping to get to this year and I understand what you mean about your library being a temptation! I'm always walking out of mine with piles of books when I should be reading the ones on my own shelves!

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    1. Katherine - I remember reading your review of The Residence. Picked it up as kindle daily deal not too long afterwards. Given your love of mysteries, Wilkie Collins should be the priority!

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  4. I should really do this! I could cope with the no new books but I would have serious library withdrawal. It's a great list! I read the Alison Lurie years and years ago...I'm sure you're going to tempt me to read it again.

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    1. Audrey - I've wanted to read Foreign Affairs forever! Making lists like this keeps me excited about reading books I already own.

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  5. I read A Month in the Country quite a few years. As I recall it was a very somber story. Tips for old books like this I pick up from many sources, but I'll take tips from wherever I can get them. The Space Between Us sounds like a book I would like, so I will track down a copy. A tip for you: About Women by Lisa Alther and Francoise Gilot. Non-Fic, it is a conversation between a writer (Alther) and an artist (Gilot, who I believe was one of Picasso's wives).

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    1. JudyMac - A Month in the Country is a recent edition to my kindle. James (James Reads Books) read it not long ago and loved it, then a few days later it was a kindle daily deal.

      I've had The Space Between Us on my shelf for years and finally read Thrity Umrigar for the first time last month. Her writing in The Story Hour was wonderful! Looking forward to more.

      Will look into About Women... after the TBR Dare ;-)

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  6. I've read The Remains of the Day several years ago and liked it very much. And then I watched the movie. Liked it too. Although Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson were an interesting duo. They fit, but I wasn't sure they would. I also have The Residence on my Kindle and started it and then went on to other things. I need to go back to it because I was finding it fascinating.

    I've pretty much complied with the Triple Dog Dare - mostly. ;-)

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    1. Kay - I bought The Remains of the Day at a library books sale at least two years ago and have never seen the movie. This is the perfect chance to read and watch!

      The dare is going much better for me this year... probably because I've been reading City on Fire forever and avoiding temptation ;-)

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  7. it seems that whenever I do a book plan, I don't want to read those books - I want to read something else. :<)) I've read Remains of the Day a long time ago.

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    1. Nan - That's usually the case for me, too, I'm afraid. But making the list keeps me excited about reading the books for a little while at least ;-)

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  8. Wow. What a great list of books. I really like Henry James, so What Maisie Knew is a favorite of mine. And I've been meaning to read The Remains of the Day ever since I saw the movie. (A sadly long time, I know.) Hope you're able to get to all of these books at some point. Happy Reading!

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    1. Lark - Thanks. I really like Henry James, too, and an excited about the readalong. It will be interesting to see how they've adapted the film version of What Maisie Knew to modern time. Fingers crossed I get to all of these books!

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  9. Yeah, I had already committed to 3 tours before I found out about this challenge, and it's been h-e-double-toothpicks watching all the tour notices for March come through! (But so far, I've stayed 'strong'.) :O)

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    1. LuAnn - I enjoy reading and blogging a lot more when commitments are kept to a minimum! The readalong is a book I've wanted to read for ages, and I had both the other two before the end of the year... so I'm still good with the dare ;-)

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  10. The Space Between Us is fantastic. Also liked Remains of the Day - book and movie. I also find the library hard to resist, it's like all my shelved books at home are security reads just in case I ever find myself without LOL

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    1. Diane - I really liked Umrigar's The Story Hour and am looking forward to her older novels. Afraid I look at my shelves as 'just in case' books sometimes, too... new books/library books are so tempting!

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  11. I have not read ANY of these books! I've seen the movie version of Remains of the Day a couple of times and loved it. I have an ARC of The Space Between Us and it's publication date was January 2006. Ten years it's been sitting on my shelf! You've motivated me and as soon as I finish my current book (Unremarried Widow), I'll read Thrity Umrigar's novel. Thanks! :)

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    1. Les - Wanting to watch the movie Remains of the Day prompted me to buy the book at library sale a couple years ago... still haven't read or watched, so the time has come! Guessing The Space Between Us has been on my shelf since 2008 or 2009 - too long. I should probably start writing the date on new books coming into my house. Maybe it would motivate me to read them sooner!

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  12. Oooh so many good ones on your (e-)shelf! The Noreen Wald mystery looks really good and I love the sound of The Space between Us, definitely need to lokk it up! Good luck with the challenge :)

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    1. Bina - I added that Noreen Wald book after enjoying The Country Club Murders series by Julie Mulhern. Cozy mysteries have become my 'fun' reading lately!

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  13. That is quite a list. The only of those I have ever read is Them!

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    1. Patty - Them is supposedly JCO's most famous work. I've enjoyed a couple of her other works and hated a couple of her books, too. Curious to see how I feel about this one...

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  14. Interesting list! I haven't read any of them.

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    1. Vicki - Most of these have been on my shelf for a long time. I really need to read the books I already own!!

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  15. I've read Remains of the Day and All My Puny Sorrows, both of which are excellent although neither in a "high-action" way. I also have The Space Between Us on my own TBR.

    Have fun with your list!

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    1. Debbie - I'm fine with books that are not 'high-action'... great characters and writing is enough for me. Have read some very positive reviews of All My Puny Sorrows, so couldn't resist when it was a kindle daily deal last month.

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  16. I haven't read any of these, but it sounds like there are some really interesting ones on this list. Happy reading :-)

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    1. Jessicabookworm - It should be a great winter of reading. Hope I can get through most of these!

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  17. I have read Maisie which I found tedious but interesting and the Residence which I completely loved.

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    1. Pam - It's been a couple of years since I last read Henry James and it does take me a little while to settle into his style. Hope he is not too obtuse in Maisie. Can't wait to read The Residence!

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  18. Such a good mix. I *hated* Remains of the Day and couldn't even finish it. I think I'm the only person on earth who feels that way, so I'm curious what you'll think.

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    1. Beth F - I started Remains of the Day a few years ago and couldn't get into. Blamed it on my mood at the time, but we'll see how the second attempt works out.

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  19. Interesting list, but I can't add any to mine. Doing the TDD myself although I forgot to sign up. Hoping to keep it going past the three months so I can weed out my shelf and basket even more. I truly miss the library, though. Best of luck.

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    1. Midlife Roadtripper - My plan is to continue beyond the three months, too. I'm still visiting the library (love the local branch here in FL), but have managed to limit myself to movies, cookbooks, and print books I already have as an ebook or audiobook. So far that's working. Fingers crossed!

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  20. Ah, The Space Between Us! One of my all-time favorites and one of the few books I've read and kept because I'm sure I'll read it again.

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    1. Lisa - I loved The Story Hour (my first Umrigar) and am looking forward to The Space Between Us... so glad to know it's one of your favorites!

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    2. Had to chime in here since I'm almost finished with The Space Between Us. I am loving this novel and am so glad you mentioned it in this post. Thanks so much for the nudge to finally read something by Umrigar. I can't wait to read more by her! What a great storyteller!

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    3. Les - If you and Lisa both love it, chances are I will, too. I haven't reviewed The Story Hour yet (and I really should) but the writing, storytelling, and characters are all so good. I bet you would enjoy that one, too!

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  21. I'm so late to the conversation, you may have already read it by now, but I loved A Month in the Country. Not to overplay it, but it is enjoyable to read and, at the very least, a minor masterpiece.

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    1. Thomas - I haven't read it yet, but with your endorsement I'll certainly get to it sooner. Seems like my reading has come to a screeching halt this month... crawling through What Maisie Knew and that's about it :(

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