The 2023 TBR Pile Challenge

For more years than I care to remember I’ve signed up for Roof Beam Reader’s TBR Pile Challenge hoping to read most, if not all of the 12 books and two alternates on my list. I’m embarrassed to say year after year I’ve failed miserably. No matter how hard I try, at best I manage to make it through a mere handful of my intended books. Frustrated by my history of poor performance I opted to sit this year out, despite 2023 marking the challenge’s 10th anniversary.

Over the weekend however I had second thoughts and decided to give the challenge another try. After a bit of wailing and gnashing of teeth I selected 12 books and two alternates I’d like to read over the course of the year.

• A World Without Islam by Graham E. Fuller (2010)
• The Evolution of God by Robert Wright (2009)
• The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor David S. Landes (1998)
• America: What Went Wrong? by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele (1992)
• Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (2017)
• The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos (1989)
• Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow (1959)
• Volcano and Miracle: A Selection from The Journal Written at Night by Gustaw Herling  (1996)
• Destination: Morgue!: L.A. Tales by James Ellroy (2004)
• The Snowman by Jo Nesbø (2011)
• The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson (2009)
• What’s the Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America by Thomas Frank (2004)
• Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before by Tony Horwitz (2002) – Alternate
• God’s Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215 by David Levering Lewis (2008) – Alternate

In accordance with the rules of the reading challenge I’ll be updating my reading progress on a dedicated page on my blog. Maybe this year I’ll finally finish a good chunk of my selected books. Wish me luck.