bookshelf love {reading challenge}

If you are a bookworm, you most likely have something called a TBR (to-be-read) -- be it a shelf, a pile, or a room with a maze-like path through the teetering paperback forest -- and, if you're anything like me, books that have been on it for months or even years. And yet, we keep buying more books. And visiting the library. And ordering ARCs (advance review copies). And entering giveaways. The bookshelf starts feeling neglected, sitting untouched except perhaps to have more novels shoved into every little available crevice.

I propose we show those bookshelves some love.

The point of this challenge is to read books you already own, and possibly clear some space on those over-loaded shelves. Pick a stack of books from your TBR shelf and set a time frame to read them in. This can range from a small stack you'll devour in a matter of weeks to clearing the whole TBR by the end of the year. Regardless, any books that remain untouched at the end of your challenge get donated, sold, given away, or recycled, leaving more space for books you love or those inevitable bagfuls you'll bring home from that upcoming library sale. Getting rid of books is not a requirement of the challenge (note the "guidelines" below), but it certainly adds some incentive!

Feel free to join me for any length of time during the next seven weeks (Feb. 2 - Mar. 22), which is the span of my personal challenge, or set your own time frame as mentioned above. I'll keep adding to the participants list for as long as I have people signing up so that we can follow each others' progress and offer encouragement. Just provide your name and a link to your challenge post in the comments below, and I'll update the list. No blog? No worries! You can post your challenge and updates on any social media outlet.

guidelines*

1. choose a time frame for your challenge
2. select a stack of unread books from your shelves/piles/boxes/book hoard
3. post a photo and/or list of the books on your blog or social media, along with the chosen time frame
4. use the challenge image in your post (if posting on a blog) and link back to the original challenge page
5. leave a link to your post in the comments on the original challenge page, so you can be added to the list of participants
6. read, read, read!
7. donate, sell, giveaway, or recycle any books still unread at the end of the challenge

*I use this term, and not "rules," intentionally. Make this challenge your own! It is typically helpful to choose a time frame for a reading challenge, though, and no cheating on #2!!! If it causes too much stress or you just can't bear to part with your dearly beloved books, you can forego #7. I don't blame you -- if I had the space, I'd keep mine, too!

participants

1. Serena (poetree) -- 7 weeks, 12 books (Feb. 2 - Mar. 22) & 14 weeks, 10 books (Sep. 19 - Dec. 25)
2. Raye (The Book Hoarder) -- 9 weeks, 25 books (Feb. 6 - May 10)
3. Heather (Worth Getting in Bed For) -- 16 weeks, 16 books (Feb. 7 - Jun. 7)
4. Serpent -- 4 months, 6 books (Feb. 23 - Jun.) & 10 months, 11 books (Feb. 23 - Dec.)
5. Candice (O Ye Scribes) -- 5 weeks, 7 books (May 30 - Jul. 11)
6. Nora (Reading Experiences with Nora) -- 20 books, Oct. 14 - Jan. 5
7.