Soffitta1's 2019 Reduction Challenge

Here are my goals: Read all books registered before July 2018, all the books registered by other Bookcrossers and the majority of the rest.
I'd like to read at least 5 TBR books a month, 10 would help my habit, but I do have books on my shelves that are not registered with Bookcrossing which I have had for a while as well....

I'd like to reach 825 1001 books read, if not 850 by the end of the year as well.

Stats - to be updated on the first of January - there's always a chance this number will reduce!
87 registered books from before January 2019
3 from before 2017
6 from 2017
10 from the first half of 2018
68 from the second half of 2018

Last year I had 69 to read (with 3 unread by the end of the year).

Current progress (updated 17 August):

11 registered books from before January 2019
0 from before 2017
1 from 2017
2 from the first half of 2018
8 from the second half of 2018

2006 COMPLETED

Read June
1. Frangipani (other BXer)

2012 COMPLETED

Read Jan
1. Daughter of China (other BXer)

2016: COMPLETED

Read May
1. I shot the Buddha ( Other BXer)

2017

NOV
1. Finnegan’s Wake (other BXer)

Read
Jan
1. An Aroma of Coffee
May
2. Palace of Desire - On last year's list
Jul
3. The Tenderness of Wolves (other BXer)
Aug
4. House of Shade - On last year's list
5. Diary of a Provincial Lady - On last year's list

2018 - Jan- Mar

Feb
1. Career of Evil (other BXer) *need to find book 2 in series

Read Jul
1. The trouble with goats and sheep

Oct
2. The New Republic

2018 - Apr - Jun

Apr
1. The Malayan Trilogy

Read Feb
1. Frothy Coffee
2. Where we go when all we were is gone (other BXer)
March
3. The Muse (other BXer)
4. Uprooted
Dec
5. She’s not there (other BXer)

2018 - Jul

Jul
1. Offering to the Storm *part of a trilogy, missing book 2
2. Capital

Read
Jan
1. Autumn
2. Crazy as Chocolate
3. The Razor’s Edge *1001
Feb
4. Joseph Andrews & Shamela *1001
5. The Betrothed *1001
6. Bloodlines
7. Prisoner of the Inquisition
8. The Well of loneliness *1001
Mar
9. The Lieutenant
10. The Music Shop (other BXer)
11. Our Ancestors *1001
12. The Salmon of doubt
Apr
13. The Rebels
Jun
14. Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine
Jul
15. Sacred Country
16. Midnight at the bright ideas bookstore (other BXer)
Aug
17. Outline
18. A view of the harbour
Sept
19. The Heart goes Last

2018 - Aug

1. The Star in the Sea

Read
Jan
1.Manhattan Beach
Feb
2. Billy Bathgate *1001
Mar
3. Dog Years *1001
Jun
4. Identity
Jul
5. The First Circle *1001
6. Tom Sawyer (other BXer)
7. The Sympathizer
Aug
8. All the light we cannot see (other BXer)
Oct
9. The Gravedigger’s Daughter
Dec
10. The Invisible Guardian

2018 - Sept

1. Sylt oder Solo (other BXer)
2. Pickwick Papers
3. House of the Hanged

Jan
1. The Last Pearl Fisher of Scotland
Feb
2. That they may face the rising sun
3. The forgotten waltz (other BXer)
Mar
4. Is everyone hanging out without me?
Apr
5. Underworld *1001
Jul
6. It can’t happen here
Sept
7. The town in bloom
8. Our House
Dec
9. El Misterio del Falso Espejo

2018 - Oct COMPLETE

Read May
1. Exile (other BXer)
Jun
2. My life in France
Aug
3. Instructions for a heatwave
Sept
4. Last Chance to see (other BXer)
5. The nun of Monza (other BXer)
Oct
6. A Summer bird Cage

2019 - Nov COMPLETE

Read
Feb
1. A Tale of Love and Darkness *1001
2. Smiley’s People *1001
Apr
3. Jane Austen
May
4. Palace Walk
5. The Four Great Novels * 2x 1001 books read, left other one.
6. The 100-Year-old man who climbed out the window
Jun
7. Sugar Street
8. The Sunrise
Oct
9. The moaning of life
10. The Orchid House

2018 - Dec

1. Capricornia
2. The Pearl Sister *Part of a series, need to pick up earlier books

Jan
1. The Toymakers
2. What Maisie Knew
3. Hunger
Apr
4. My mother is a river
5. Carol
Aug
6. Mr. Darcy's Secret
Oct
7. The History of Bees

I hope to read more before the end of the year, but all in all this is not too bad (for me!).
A number of the books are 1001 books, I am still working on the list. I hope to get to 825 at least in 2019.
I plan to register, read and release a number of books I have had for a while. I will give them a go and if they don't cut the mustard, I will release them.

Hello --

I was just trying to figure out the dates/book lists above. Are those books you tried but didn't read in those given years, and therefore they are compiling your 2019 list? Regardless, looking forward to hearing about them and cheering you on! :)

Good luck with your challenge. I am very impressed that you are aiming for 825 of the 1001 books! I am still only at 127.

>15 PokPok: I have done it by registration date on Bookcrossing, I am trying to be more honest to myself about Mount TBR by registering books as I get them. I didn't have many pre-2018 books, but there was a convention, some meetings and somehow that pile grew again!
>16 mathgirl40: I am happy that there are still some books that aren't 1000 pages left to read!

>17 soffitta1:

That's fabulous!! Looking forward to following your journey.

Wow, 825 1001-books read! That's a figure I can only dream of for now. I've done a good job this year and read (thus far) 27. But my grand total isn't bigger than 187. But... working on that.
For now: good luck on this and your other challenges!!
Happy to see you here again :-)

Thanks! I do hope to be more active on the forum as well. I have been lucky in sourcing books recently.

Starting stats

87 registered books from before January 2019
3 from before 2017
6 from 2017
10 from the first half of 2018
68 from the second half of 2018

>20 soffitta1: I too hope that you're more active on the forum this year, as I'm sure it will motivate me to read more from the 1001 list. :)

I hope to be - I am trying to have a better work/life balance - spending more time on things I enjoy.

January reads

Jan
1. The Last Pearl Fisher of Scotland
This was an unregistered book left at a local OBCZ, so I had to take it back to Scotland to read!
Due to overfishing and pollution, there is only one pearl fisher left. His job is his calling, but also he must complete the pearl necklace he has been making for his wife since he married her. When a big pearl is found, all hell breaks loose and life will change in the village. A good holiday read, but more substance than expected.

2. The Toymakers
This was December's book club read, but I let it slip as I knew I would miss the meet up. The toy shop is a magical place, with the toys being made are more than regular toys, taking the children who buy them into another world. The workers have also been drawn there by the magic, a haven in times of need. The book is more than a simple love story or a new beginning, the toys also change with the world events happening around them. One to read and ponder over.

3. What Maisie Knew *1001
In some ways the concept behind the book was way ahead of its time, a young girl caught between warring divorcing parents. At times it is farcical, the lengths that people will go to lie and cheat each other in the name of love. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

4. Hunger *1001
A stark account about the madness, pain and misery caused by abject poverty and hunger. A brutal but sadly prescient book in these difficult times.

5. An Aroma of Coffee
Life in the Caribbean through the eyes of a child. Interesting, but more like a series of connected vignettes than a novel.

6. Autumn
The first book in Ali Smith's season quadrilogy. I really enjoyed this, it is so compelling to read a book so very much written in the now.

7. Crazy as Chocolate
A woman is trying to make sense of her relationship with her mother who committed suicide when she was a child. The ripples of her death are still felt years later and in every relationship she has. I found this rather sad, but there was also a sense of catharsis.

Great progress so far. It's excellent that you've already finished two from the 1001 list.

Thank you! I have got distracted by other books as well.

8. Manhattan Beach
I had read Egan's previous book, A Visit from the Goon Squad, but it soon became clear that this book was completely different. At the centre of the story, Anna is looking for her independence in a time of great change. The story is part family saga, part historical drama. I enjoyed it.

9. Daughter of China
I got this at the UK convention - this is the experiences of a young PLA officer who falls foul of the system in China.
There are a number of books that have been written about living under the Communist regime in China, but there is something else here. The narrative has two timelines - in one, Xu is undergoing interrogation for her relationship with an American professor, in the other, Xu dips into her own past to show the reader how she ended up there.

Just started The Razor's Edge.

>27 soffitta1: I'll have to make a note of Daughter of China. It looks like an interesting read. I too liked Manhattan Beach but I was a little bit disappointed, given Jennifer Egan's reputation. I'd not read any of her earlier books but they'd been recommended to me.

>27 soffitta1:

My cousin is a friend of Egan's, and from/lives in Manhattan Beach. I've wondered how much of it is realistic to the area. Glad you liked it.

>29 PokPok: Not a place I'd heard of before.
>28 mathgirl40: I think it was just a very different book to her others, I chose it for my book group, keen to see what they say.

10. The Razor’s Edge *1001

February targets

My crazy target is 12 1001 books to reach 800 read by the end of the month. I am going to try to read 6 from this list here.

>31 soffitta1: Wow, 800 by the end of the month would be really impressive! I always thought of "1001 books to read before you die" as an unattainable goal but I hope you will prove me wrong. :)

Turns out it was one fewer - missed one I'd read!

10. Razor's Edge *1001

Feb
11. Joseph Andrews & Shamela *1001

12. That they may face the rising sun *1001

13. A Tale of Love and Darkness *1001

14. Frothy Coffee

15. Where we go when all we were is gone (other BXer)

16. The Betrothed *1001

17. Billy Bathgate *1001

18. The forgotten waltz (other BXer)

19. Smiley’s People *1001

20. Bloodlines

>32 mathgirl40: and >31 soffitta1:

Same (re unattainable goal and crossing fingers and toes that Soffitta makes it!

PokPok

>25 soffitta1:

There has been suicide x 2 in my family. Would you recommend this to family members/survivors? Did it ring true to you?

>34 soffitta1: Great progress on the 1001 books!

>36 PokPok: Very sorry to hear this. I can't imagine what it would be like for the family members.

I have made my mini 1001 goal - I have read 801 from the combined lists. To finish a 1001 by my target date, I need to read 6.5 a month, so going to try and aim for 8 to allow for some of the tomes I have been putting off.

>36 PokPok:
I am very sorry for your losses, I have not had direct experience of this, so I can only give you my impression.
I would say this book gave me a glimpse at the pain, suffering and bewildering mix of emotions I can only imagine someone going through this would feel. It rang true for me, but I wonder if I would recommend it more to someone trying to understand what a friend or loved one has gone through than someone directly affected by suicide.

I would actually recommend A Tale of Love and Darkness more - this is an autobiography in which the writer's mother committed suicide and it goes through the author's live and hers to try and get a better understanding of what happened. The writer gives his reaction at the time as well as throughout his life, this changing understanding or reasoning made the book ring truer to me.

21. Prisoner of the Inquisition

22. The Well of loneliness *1001

Two last books for the month, making that 12 in total from my TBR in February. I also read 14 1001 books (one was a re-read for book group) bringing my total up to 802 books read from the combined list!

March Goals:
I'd like to read 8 tbr books (10 if I can) and 8 1001 books. I am wondering if I could get to 850 read by the end of June - that is a very aspirational target!

>39 soffitta1: and >40 soffitta1:

All I can say is Wow! I only commit to reading 12 1001 books in the whole year and here you've done that and more in a month plus read 12 from the TBR pile. I am humbled.

Some of the 1001 books were also tbr, so that helped! I also had half term - so been ahead in planning. I have been trying to read for an hour each night to reduce screen time and help me sleep better. Working so far.

23. The Lieutenant

24. Is everyone hanging out without me?

thoughts to be added

>42 soffitta1: I try to read every night before bedtime too. I don't usually manage an hour, but I find that even reading a little bit helps me sleep. It takes work, chores and other mundane matters out of my mind.

25. The Music Shop (other BXer)

26. Our Ancestors *1001

27. The Muse (other BXer)

28. Uprooted

I have currently read 6 1001 books as well- very busy month, so behind the curve.

29. Dog Years *1001

30. The Salmon of doubt

Just made my targets. Busy month!

Here's the update:

87 registered books from before January 2019 - new total: 57 TBR
2 to read from before 2017
5 from 2017
5 from the first half of 2018
45 from the second half of 2018

My plan for April is to push on with 1001 challenge - to read 10 books from the list.
I will also aim for 5 from my TBR pile.

>46 soffitta1: That's a pretty impressive total so far. Good luck with the April plan!

It is, but I have read a lot of the thinner, less scary ones!

Five read for April

31. Underworld

32. My mother is a river

33. Carol

34. The Rebels

35. Jane Austen

I have read 9 1001 books, I am on number 10 - let's see if I can do it!

>49 soffitta1: Good luck -- 10 would be a nice number to end the month on!

I made it! The tenth was Rashomon. I enjoyed it.

87 registered books from before January 2019 - new total: 52 TBR
2 to read from before 2017
5 from 2017
5 from the first half of 2018
40 from the second half of 2018

I want to read at least 6 books - including The Cairo Trilogy as part 2 has been on my pile for a while.
It is an exam month at school so will try for 5 1001 books with an aspirational target of 10.

A quiet month in terms of reading.

36. I shot the Buddha ( Other BXer)
37. Palace Walk

38. Palace of Desire
39. Exile
40. The Four Great Novels * I had already read one, so read the 2 1001 books and left the last one.
41. The 100-Year-old man who climbed out the window

In May I read 6 from my TBR pile and 6 1001 books.
I read 2 of The Cairo Trilogy, I really enjoyed seeing behind the closed doors in Egypt.

This month, I plan to finish The Cairo Trilogy and read 5 others from my TBR pile. I would also like to read 7 1001 books as this would keep me on track for a 100 read over the year.

42. Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine - loved this!

>55 soffitta1: Glad to hear it. I'll have to keep this one in mind!

43. My life in France, thought I'd read this while I was in France for the World Cup. This is Julia Child's autobiography of her life in France, including her cookery school, cook book and TV appearances. She was obviously a tour de force!

44. Sugar Street, final book in The Cairo Trilogy. I have picked up a 1001 book by the same author and will be bumping it up my TBR pile. Highly recommended series.

45. The Sunrise
This time Hislop takes us to Cyprus as the island moves towards military division. I always enjoy the human face she brings to the history.

Currently reading Breadfruit, the first book in a Tahiti series - book 2, Frangipani, is my oldest BX book (not too long in my possession, but registered a long time ago).

46. Frangipani (other BXer)
I have really enjoyed getting to know Tahiti through Célestine Hitiura Vaite's work. Simply told, there are is a lot going on in the books, easy to get lost in this world. I plan to follow up with Tiara soon.
This was the oldest book on the list, so now I am down to books registered last year.

47. Identity
A short book about a couple without trust.
I don't think I'll be reading anymore from this list, but I have achieved my goal of 5 plus the one from the trilogy. I have read 4 1001 books and am 100 pages into The Last Temptation - a mere 600+ pages!

We are so close to the Summer holidays here, so I am going to aim for 6 again from this list including one from 2017.

Congratulations on meeting your June goal! By the way, I really loved My Life in France. I thought it was very inspirational how she managed to start her cooking career relatively late in life.

Thank you! She was certainly a force to reckon with.

July reads:

48. Sacred Country
49. Midnight at the bright ideas bookstore (other BXer)
50. The First Circle *1001

51. The Tenderness of Wolves (other BXer)
52. The trouble with goats and sheep
53. Tom Sawyer (other BXer)
54. The Sympathizer
55. It can’t happen here

Took a few books on holiday - travelling on trains and planes always gives me time and space to read.

8 read in July, I am currently making my way through a 3-in-1 book from this list: House of Shade. I plan to read 6 from my TBR pile in August and 9 1001 books to get to 860 read. *been double checking my numbers and I'd missed some but ticked off ones I hadn't read, so new total is 847. Going to go for 8 to get me to 865.

Planned reads:
Finish off House of Shade
All the light we cannot see - picked by a friend as her choice for our book group
Diary of a Provincial Lady - this was on my list last year as well

Great progress in July!

56. House of Shade
Rather dated mysteries, my favourite was the final book, Death in Kashmir, as the backdrop was most clearly drawn.

57. All the light we cannot see
Really enjoyed this, jumping around points of view and time to keep the mystery going.

58. Outline
First book in a trilogy, interlocking personal stories of the people the main character meets, while she herself remains aloof. Intriguing, got book 2 ready to go.

>67 soffitta1: I really liked All the Light We Cannot See as well!

59. A view of the harbour
60. Diary of a Provincial Lady - this was on my list last year as well
61. Instructions for a heatwave
62. Mr. Darcy's Secret

Thoughts to come.

I read 7 off the list, that didn't include Finnegan's Wake, but I did read the last of my books from last year's list: Diary of a Provincial Lady. I read 9 1001 books, taking me up to 856.

September:
I'd like to read 5 from my list, possibly these:

The New Republic
The Heart goes Last
Last Chance to see (other BXer)

I'd also like to read 5 1001 books.

>70 soffitta1: I would have been terribly impressed if you had managed Finnegan's Wake too, in addition to the other 7. It seems a very intimidating book to me!

It is! The Bookcrosser I got it from said they just never felt ready to open it!

I have now read all the books that were left over from last year and can now fit all of these on one shelf!

I have read 5 from my list here:

63. The Heart goes Last
64. The town in bloom
65. Our House
66. Last Chance to see (other BXer)
67. The nun of Monza (other BXer)

That's probably it for this challenge, I've read 5 1001 books, but one was a reread - the wonderful The Handmaid's Tale.

Reading goals for October:
5 books from the list again, I have a couple of longer journeys, so will focus on them.
Probable reads
The New Republic
Orchid House
The Summer Bird Cage
The Gravedigger's Daughter
Capital

I am at 863 on the 1001 list, so would like to read 7 to get be to 870.

>73 soffitta1: Yes, The Handmaid's Tale is definitely worth a reread! I'd reread it myself a couple of years ago, but I've yet to see the television adaptation.

I have watched a series and a half - I don't have the channel it is on, so whenever I visit my parents I sneak in an episode. BBC have been doing readings of both books.

68. The Gravedigger’s Daughter
69. Orchid House
70. The Summer Bird Cage
71. The moaning of life

About to start:
The New Republic

72. The New Republic
73. The History of Bees

6 read for the month - though I may now be down to the big ones!
I have read 6 1001 books and hope to squeeze in one more to read 870 read.

November goals: 5 from the list with at least one being a big book (over 400 pages). I'd like to read 5 1001 books as well, that'd take me up to 875 read - my aspirational target this year.

>79 soffitta1: I continue to be extremely impressed by your 1001 progress!

I have definitely kicked on as I have the end in sight! Also done well at finding books- picked up one at a book exchange today!
Will have to find a new challenge for after!

Nov
No books from TBR read, but did read 5 1001 books.

Dec
She’s not there
The Invisible Guardian
El Misterio del Falso Espejo

Still plan to read

Offering to the Storm

Starting stats
January 2019
87
3 from before 2017
6 from 2017
10 from the first half of 2018
68 from the second half of 2018

Final stats

11 registered books from before January 2019
0 from before 2017
1 from 2017
2 from the first half of 2018
8 from the second half of 2018

76 read, so very happy with this. A few tomes were avoided that need to be read!

>84 soffitta1: Excellent progress. Congratulations!

>84 soffitta1: Congratulations on your final 2019 totals!